The Detroit Pistons have made the decision to release 22-year-old point guard, Killian Hayes, signaling an end to the 2020 lottery pick’s tenure with the team less than four full seasons into his NBA career. The decision came after an unsuccessful attempt to trade Hayes at the NBA trade deadline.

Hayes, the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has unfortunately struggled to achieve a consistent level of performance since he broke into the league with the Pistons. Notably, the young guard has found difficulty developing a formidable jump shot, a necessary skill in the modern NBA. His shooting percentage splits of 38.2 percent from the field and 27.7 percent from beyond the arc reflect this struggle.

This decision by the Pistons was likely influenced by a recent flurry of trade activity which necessitated reducing the team’s roster. The San Antonio Spurs have surfaced as a potential suitor for Hayes, positioning themselves as the likeliest team to welcome the young guard into their ranks.

While Hayes’ departure from Detroit may be seen as a setback, a change of scenery and a new team environment, such as the Spurs, could provide the opportunity for him to address the areas of his game that need improvement and develop into the player many predicted he would be when he was selected as a lottery pick.