By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Eliminated from contention to make the 2023 NBA Playoffs and also seemingly sidelining experienced Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic for the rest of the Regular Season, the Detroit Pistons are clearly focused on developing young players, including French Killian Hayes, and also looking forward to the 2023 NBA draft.
Hayes, 21, logged his third double-double of the season pairing 17 points with 13 assists in the home loss against the Indiana Pacers Saturday. Peaking in the third quarter, he scored or assisted in all 11 buckets until checking out. Back in the starting lineup, he additionally registered six rebounds, two steals, and one block over 37 minutes.
“Killian has to play at that level and with that force for every minute he can,” noted head coach Dwane Casey after the affair in Little Caesars Arena, “That’s a hard thing for young players to understand, whether it is on the offensive or defensive end.”
Consistency has been an issue for Hayes since being selected with the seventh overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft and moving his talents to Detroit. Currently averaging 9.3 points and 5.9 assists per game in his third NBA campaign project new career-highs, respectively. But the Pistons apparently seek even more from the French point guard.
The Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes
The Pistons will be placed in the NBA Lottery among the teams with increased odds to secure the first selection in the 2023 draft, thus probably boosting the franchise with French prodigy Victor Wembanyama. A French connection between Wembanyama with Hayes would likely ease the process of adjusting in the NBA for the agile big. Consequently, the current member of the squad from France upping his game and becoming more consistent is a win-win.
Wembanyama, 19, currently dominating France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A with Metropolitans 92 leads the league in points, rebounds, blocks, and evaluation. He is widely considered the frontrunner to be selected first overall in the upcoming draft. The Pistons would be a nice fit, especially with Hayes in town. However, luck will be the main factor deciding the future of the super prospect, possibly leading away from Detroit.
Bojan Bogdanovic remains out
Bogdanovic, 33, has been dealing with bilateral Achilles soreness. The Pistons are considering shutting him down per multiple reports, but have yet to officially confirm such a decision.
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