By his own admission Killian Hayes is having an up-and-down season but he’s still hopeful of catching on with an NBA club
In an interview with Sam Yip of Hoopshype, Killian Hayes offers an optimistic assessment of chances at returning to the NBA — and says he’s had interest after playing a half season with the Long Island Nets, but if nothing evolves, he’s prepared to return to Europe.
The interview, published Thursday, doesn’t mention the Brooklyn Nets as a possible landing spot but he wasn’t asked specifically about the Nets either. Brooklyn waived the 23-year-old back in October and he hooked up with Long Island. While the Nets hold Hayes G League rights, he is an NBA free agent. Yip hinted that Hayes might find a home soon, noting he’s been showing his wares this week at the G League’s Winter Showcase in Orlando.
Hayes is averaging 13.1 points, 7.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals but his shooting splits remain and issue. He’s shooting under 50% overall, under 29% from deep and under 60% from the free throw line. Complicating his future with Brooklyn was the Nets acquisition of two-way Reece Beekman from the Warriors in the Dennis Schroder deal. Beekman’s G League’s numbers are better across the board. Beekman is 23 as well but has only played in five NBA games for Golden State and Brooklyn, all in garbage time.
Hayes, on the other hand, was taken No. 7 in the 2020 NBA Draft by Detroit and has played in 210 NBA games, 145 of them starts. He was waived by the Pistons last February. A big reason was his shooting which, he told Yip, is improving … despite the numbers.
“Shooting. I’d say it’s up and down, up and down,” he said when asked about improvements to his game,” but I feel like I’m becoming very comfortable with my shot, especially catch and shoot.
“I’d say definitely get more lift on it,” he said of specific improvements. “I think most of my misses were short and that comes with footwork. I feel like this summer I was working on my footwork a lot with (former Nets assistant coach) Adam Harrington, and just getting the ball up. That was my biggest thing.”
Overall, Hayes said, he’s generally happy with his performance.
“Definitely aggressively on both sides of the floor. Offensively, my playmaking ability and getting into the lane, and defensively just picking up full court, and just being aggressive on their best player,” he said.
As for future prospects, Hayes said said he has had some interest both from the NBA and from overseas but provided no details, instead saying he’s focused on Sunday’s Winter Showcase game vs. the Delaware Blue Coats.
“I mean yeah. I’m just focused on the Showcase. We got one more game on Sunday. Try to lock in and get a good one,” said Hayes of his NBA prosects, He also said he has had offers from European teams but again provided few details.
“There have been offers, the Euroleague, Eurocup, but like I said I’m here today and I have a game on Sunday, that’s what I’m focused on.”
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One of his Long Island teammates won’t be on the bench Sunday night in Orlando: Patrick Gardner. The Nets traded their only player taller than 6’8” to the Osceola Magic for 6’8” Tre Scott. The 6’11” Egyptian-American big averaged 7.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 16.5 minutes per game in 14 games. Scott, a 6’8” power forward, has played in 13 games this season averaging 5.2 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. in 16.1 minutes. Gardner is 25, Scott 28.
Expect more moves in the coming days. With the worst record in the G League, Long Island has first crack on the waiver wire.
- Killian Hayes: ‘You can’t take everything off the Internet’ – Sam Yip – Hoopshype
- OSCEOLA MAGIC ACQUIRE PATRICK GARDNER FROM LONG ISLAND NETS – Osceola Magic