2020 Draft

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Saddiq Bey Photos

Keith Langlois

Coming off of the 2018 NCAA national championship, Villanova put together a highly regarded four-man recruiting class. Saddiq Bey was the lowest rated of the bunch. He’s the first to get to the NBA. And his coach, Jay Wright, thinks Bey is going to keep growing and exceeding expectations thanks to his makeup – exactly the profile that new Pistons general manager said he sought when scouring for draft prospects.

“I think Saddiq is a really unique combination of extremely high character, extremely high intelligence off the court – a 3.8 in our business school – and great basketball IQ,” Wright told me Thursday. “Very mature – on the court and off the court.”

Bey was a 5-foot-8 point guard as a high school freshman at powerhouse DeMatha Catholic near Washington, D.C., before transferring to Sidwell Friends, famous for schooling the children of White House occupants, among other luminaries. There he experienced a growth spurt that saw him shoot to 6-foot-6 as a senior. He’s grown to 6-foot-8 since arriving at Villanova as a three-star recruit in the fall of 2018 and immediately becoming a key contributor for the defending national champs.

The Pistons acquired Bey by shipping Bruce Brown to Brooklyn and Luke Kennard plus Justin Patton and four second-round picks to the Clippers in exchanged for the 19th pick in Wednesday’s draft, plus veterans Rodney McGruder, Dzanan Musa and Toronto’s 2021 second-round pick. Bey was widely considered a lottery pick and frequently linked to San Antonio at 11 before the Spurs picked Florida State’s Devin Vassell.

Bey, 21, led Villanova in scoring as a sophomore at 16.1 points a game, hitting 45.1 percent of his 3-point attempts on 5.6 attempts per game. He’s about as fundamentally sound as a rookie arriving to the NBA can be at both ends, projecting as an above-average 3-point shooter with plus size and defensive versatility. He got nicked for average athleticism in predraft evaluations, but nobody questions his work ethic, selflessness or court IQ.

And to those who think the athleticism limits his growth potential, Wright – who’s sent eight players to the NBA in just the past four drafts – scoffs.

“He’s still got an upside,” Wright said. “There’s still a youth to him. He still can learn a lot and he’s open to learning and being coached.”

A more defined role for Bey in his rookie season can’t be ascertained until the results of new general manager Troy Weaver’s radical makeover of the Pistons roster is completed after free agency, but he appears about as NBA ready as a rookie can be from a makeup perspective. Wright had conversations with the Pistons brain trust, has known Weaver for years and has the Philadelphia connection with both Ed Stefanski, senior adviser to Pistons owner Tom Gores, and Arn Tellem, Pistons vice chairman.

“I think Troy and those guys – just talking to Arn and Ed – I know they know it: I’m hoping he’s a steal,” Wright said. “I’m hoping he’s a steal for them. He’s really good now and he’s ready, but he can really get a lot better. That’s a unique kind of guy.”

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Villanova’s Jay Wright gives new Piston Saddiq Bey ringing endorsement: ‘He’s really good now and he’s ready’

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Troy Weaver Draft Night Press Conference

Killian Hayes will be one of the NBA’s youngest players, but Troy Weaver says he’s more ready than most rookies to provide some immediate help.

“He’s been a pro for a while – since he was 16,” Weaver said after making Hayes the Pistons pick at No. 7 in Wednesday night’s NBA draft. “I think his learning curve may be a little faster than a normal rookie in the States. He was coached hard over in Europe and he has high basketball character. His parents did a tremendous job raising him, so we were excited about the young man as well as the player.”

Weaver said one of his abiding principles gleaned from more than a decade as second in command at Oklahoma City when picking high in the draft is to first make sure you’re sold on the character of the player. Hayes checked that box for him in a big way.

“His dad (DeRon, a star at Penn State in the early ’90s) was a former player. He’s been around the game all his life,” Weaver said. “So he has a really competitive spirit. That’s the biggest trait we look for. We want competitive guys. He’s extremely competitive.”

Hayes had an inkling Detroit would be his destination and wound up getting an eyeballs emoji text from fellow Frenchman Sekou Doumbouya, last year’s Pistons pick, as the selection was made. Hayes said he texted back to Doumbouya in French, “I’m coming.”

“It’s a big relief because in my head, I kind of knew it was Detroit,” Hayes said. “But nothing was guaranteed. When I heard my name with Detroit, I was really happy. … A lot of excitement. I felt super proud of myself.”

Hayes turned 19 in late July while Doumbouya, the youngest player in the NBA last season after the Pistons took him 15th in the 2019 draft, will turn 20 in late December.

Weaver said Hayes, 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, stood out for his size and physicality at point guard. He compared him to Miami guard Goran Dragic, who helped lead the Heat to the 2020 NBA Finals.

“The comparison for me is a bigger version of Dragic,” Weaver said. “Lefty, crafty, can score at all three levels, can see the floor. Just a bigger version. I think he’ll help us right off the bat defensively. For a young player, he has a defensive mindset. And he can really see the floor and spray the ball around. Keeping his teammates involved and bringing a defensive mentality, he’ll help us with right away.”

Hayes was born in Florida when his father was playing minor-league basketball there but moved to France when DeRon Hayes embarked on a lengthy career in European pro leagues. He played professionally for two seasons in France and last year moved to Germany’s top league with Ulm, where he played point guard and solidified himself as a lottery prospect.

In 10 games with Ulm on the highly competitive EuroCup circuit, Hayes averaged 12.8 points and 6.2 assists in 27 minutes a game, shooting .455 overall, .390 from the 3-point arc and .909 from the free-throw line. Hayes was turnover prone, averaging 3.3 a game, but cut down on them as the season progressed in his first year as a full-time point guard.

Hayes said that while he might have been left-hand dominant, he’s used the down time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to work on his body and his fundamentals.

“That was eight months ago,” he said. “I’ve been working a lot since then.  Right now my right hand is not an issue. I wouldn’t say it’s as good as my left, but I can go right at will now. It’s not a problem any more.”

Hayes trained last summer with ex-Pistons guard Will Bynum and picked his brain about what to expect from the city and the franchise.

“He came down to Orlando like a month ago and we talked a lot about Detroit,” Hayes said. “He said it’s a hard-working city, so if I get drafted there just make sure I give my all every game.”

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Killian Hayes ‘kind of knew it was Detroit’ as Pistons land French teen in first round

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Pistons 2020 NBA Draft Pick Killian Hayes

For the second straight season, the Pistons have reached across the Atlantic Ocean for their first-round pick, selecting French teen guard Killian Hayes with the seventh pick in Troy Weaver’s first draft since being named Pistons general manager in June.

Taking Hayes in the first round means the Pistons have taken players from France in successive drafts. Sekou Doumbouya, the youngest player in the 2019 draft, was last year’s pick at 15. He and Hayes have played together on France’s junior national teams.

The first three picks went as expected – Anthony Edwards to Minnesota, James Wiseman to Golden State and LaMelo Ball to Charlotte. Chicago threw something of a curveball with the No. 4 pick, taking Florida State’s Patrick Williams, a player many mock drafts had landing with the Pistons.

Cleveland went with Auburn’s Isaac Okoro with the fifth pick and Atlanta chose Southern Cal big man Onyeka Okongwu with the sixth pick, leaving the Pistons with a creative playmaker with size to bolster their backcourt. With only Derrick Rose currently on the roster at point guard, Hayes gives the Pistons a long-term solution at a critical position.

Hayes, who turned 19 in late July, can play either on or off the ball and with his size should be able to defend all three perimeter positions. He’s considered a strong on-ball defender with a high basketball IQ. His best quality probably is his court vision and ability at 6-foot-5 to exploit passing angles.

Hayes was born in Florida when his father – DeRon Hayes, a three-year starter at Penn State in the early ’90s – was playing minor-league basketball there but moved to France when DeRon Hayes embarked on a lengthy career in European pro leagues. He began playing professionally as a 17-year-old in France and last year moved to Germany’s top league with Ulm, where he played point guard and solidified himself as a lottery prospect.

We’ll have more on Hayes later with comments from him and Weaver.

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Weaver plucks French teen Killian Hayes as first pick since being named Detroit Pistons GM

As the draft, trades and free agency converge, there’s plenty of hot topics for this week’s edition of Pistons Mailbag.

Peter (Jackson, Mich.): For my money, Kira Lewis is the best point guard in this draft. Supposedly, Weaver likes big, athletic players with length. Does he value speed and shooting? Because Lewis has both.

Langlois: We know that Lewis worked out for the Pistons, for what it’s worth. And what, really, is it worth? In a typical draft year, maybe not much. At times, teams hold workouts for players they have no intention to draft for any number of reasons, including as a favor to an agent whose consideration is imperative to the franchise’s success. This year, does that really apply? Teams were granted merely 10 in-person workouts/interviews with draft prospects and, one would presume, they’re being judicious about parceling them out. Lewis was widely considered a late first-round prospect a few months ago, but he’s been rocketing up mock draft boards ever since. Whether that’s an accurate reflection of NBA team evaluations or just mock drafts finally catching up with a sentiment that was there all along is anyone’s guess. It’s generally true that Oklahoma City drafts have tended to result in players with plus size for their position and it’s tough to argue with the results. The Thunder have been consistently among the NBA’s top defensive teams in large part because of their size and athleticism. But I don’t think Weaver is oblivious to the importance of great shooting or high-level skill, either. Where all of that puts Lewis on his draft board remains to be seen. I think the odds are that five players – James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Deni Avdija and Obi Toppin – will be off the board when the Pistons pick at seven and that the Pistons pick will come from a pool of another five players: Killian Hayes, Tyrese Haliburton, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams, though at least one of the five is unlikely to still be available. (My guess is Haliburton – whose maturity, versatility, shooting and character profile will be of appeal to plenty of teams – goes somewhere in the top six.) Lewis would be an upset at No. 7, but not a huge shocker. He's got a shot to go in the top 10 and I fully expect him to be a lottery pick.

4th quarter covid (@not_presti): Who do the Pistons realistically take/have the potential to take assuming we make no more moves prior to the draft?

Langlois: As I wrote in the previous question, I think the Pistons likely will pick from a pool of Killian Hayes, Tyrese Haliburton, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams. If I had to narrow it down any further, I’d say flip a coin between Hayes and Williams. I think Haliburton just might be the likeliest to be unavailable to them, though any of the five has a realistic chance to be taken in the top six. There are reports today that Okongwu is dealing with a foot injury that isn’t expected to be a long-term thing but likely will keep him out of training camp and the start of the season. If I had to place a bet, I’d split my money on Hayes and Williams.

Ralo (Taylor, Mich.): I keep hearing rumors of Patrick Williams being drafted by the Pistons but don’t see the upside in his game or his shooting. Is he worth the pick at No. 7?

Langlois: No question he has become the hottest name linked to the Pistons over the last few weeks. Whether it’s real or a head fake, we’ll see. The upside is perhaps Williams’ outstanding appeal. His tape is filled with plays that scream upside. How that translates to possession-by-possession efficiency and production is another matter, but the upside is as tantalizing as anyone’s in this draft. At 6-foot-8 with an estimated 7-foot wingspan and high-end athleticism, Williams is the prototype for the modern-day forward, not unlike Sekou Doumbouya in that regard. As for his shooting, the sample size was small at Florida State – 50 3-point attempts for the season and 16 makes, or 32 percent. That doesn’t scream elite shooter but it surely doesn’t suggest he can’t be developed into at least an NBA average 3-point shooter. Free-throw shooting is viewed as perhaps the most accurate predictor of 3-point potential and Williams was an outstanding foul shooter, making 83.8 percent of his free throws at Florida State. If there’s a quibble with Williams, it might be his fairly anemic rebounding numbers for a player with his size and athleticism.

Walter (Boca Raton, Fla.): Let’s say they hold on to Derrick Rose until the trade deadline and they get a good offer. Since Rose is a free agent at the end of the season, could they trade him to a contender and sign him again as a free agent? It’s not the same as the Lindsey Hunter case a few years ago when he was traded to Boston, waived and re-signed by the Pistons.

Langlois: There would be nothing to prevent it in the collective bargaining agreement, though from a practical standpoint it seems unlikely. The Pistons are in a different place today than when Rose signed with them in July 2019, coming off of a playoff season and envisioning Rose as the driver of an improved bench who would join Blake Griffin as part of the closing unit. You’re right that it’s a different scenario than when the Pistons traded Lindsey Hunter to Boston as part of the three-team trade with the Pistons and Atlanta that netted Rasheed Wallace at the 2004 trade deadline. The deal was done with the understanding that Boston would waive Hunter and he would re-sign with the Pistons. The trade went down on Feb. 19, Hunter waived on Feb. 25 and re-signed Feb. 26 with the Pistons. That prompted the NBA to change the rule to mandate a 30-day waiting period before a player could re-sign with the team that had traded him. That’s what happened in 2008 when the Pistons traded Antonio McDyess along with Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson on Nov. 3. The Nuggets waived McDyess a few days after the trade, as was understood would happen by both parties, but he had to wait until early December to re-sign. After that, the NBA changed the rule to say that if a player was traded and waived by the receiving team, he couldn’t re-sign with the team that traded him until the one-year anniversary of the trade. If Rose were traded this year on an expiring contract, he could re-sign with any team when free agency opens for the 2021-22 NBA season, the Pistons included.

#Sad Boys (@DetroitSadBoys): Any predictions on how the roster will change under Troy Weaver? Any indication on his long-term strategy?

Langlois: We’re about to get some clues, though I would be careful about reading too much into early acquisitions. General managers can’t have rigid philosophies on talent other than to collect as much of it as possible. Weaver’s overriding philosophy, based on what he’s said so far, is to make sure the character matches the talent. Another clue: He loves the competitive edge that is the hallmark of the two Pistons championship eras and wants to emulate those teams. But that doesn’t mean every player will be cut from a certain mold. Not all of Weaver’s acquisitions are going to be viewed as street brawlers, if that’s the impression anyone had. Winning teams require a variety of skills and making the scoreboard move is as critical as players who prevent the opposition’s side of it from moving.

Dean Ski (@FreedumFyghter): Unless we trade up or down, Tyrese Haliburton is at the top of our big board, right?

Langlois: No one other than Troy Weaver and a select few of his inner circle really know the pecking order of preference. I’m sure there are at least three or four players Weaver knows will be unavailable to the Pistons with the seventh pick and then another group of four or five he has studied exhaustively and, of them, he’s probably hoping for one or maybe a choice of two or three to be there for the Pistons. Which circle Haliburton falls into is anyone’s guess. We’ll know a little more – maybe not everything – after the draft. Haliburton checks off a lot of boxes, but he’s not the only one.

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Pistons Mailbag - November 18, 2020

A month after the NBA rookie class of 2020 expected their debuts to happen, they’ll finally find out in what uniforms those debuts will take place.

The NBA draft is on the books tonight – five months after it was originally scheduled, another in an endless series of events postponed and transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pistons, who went into the August lottery with the fifth-best odds to land the No. 1 pick and wound up with the seventh pick instead, have lately become linked heavily in mock drafts to Florida State’s Patrick Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward whose stock has soared as the draft process has played out in unprecedented ways.

Among them: While the Pistons might typically bring 60 or more players to their practice facility for draft workouts and interviews, this year the NBA – in a nod to pandemic safety protocols – limited teams to 10 in-person interviews with a limited number of team personnel on hand.

Troy Weaver, overseeing his first draft since being hired in June as general manager, downplays the magnitude of the differences imposed on this draft process and said he’s confident the Pistons will go into draft night armed with the necessary information to make an informed decision.

“I feel pretty good that we’re getting to know them,” he said. “I feel pretty good we’re getting the right intelligence. When we get in front of the kid via Zoom or in person, I feel we’re getting to know the prospect.”

What hasn’t changed, by outward appearances, is the identity of the perceived top three candidates. It was big man James Wiseman and guards LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards last winter and nothing has changed on that front. No one is certain who’ll be the No. 1 pick when Minnesota goes on the clock tonight – or which team will end up making the pick, for that matter – but the expectation remains that the first three picks, in some order, will be Wiseman, Ball and Edwards.

After that, it gets murkier, though NCAA consensus Player of the Year Obi Toppin and Israeli teen Deni Avdija are the two other players most likely to be off the board when the Pistons get to make the pick at No. 7.

In his role as second in command to Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti’s for the past decade-plus, Weaver has been a part of every major decision for a team that came tantalizingly close to winning an NBA title but he’s been most renowned for his draft acumen and ability to project what unfinished 18- and 19-year-olds can become as NBA players.

If the top five goes as anticipated, then Weaver could be picking from a pool that includes Williams, French teen point guard Killian Hayes, Auburn freshman wing Isaac Okoro, Southern Cal freshman big man Onyeka Okongwu or Iowa State sophomore guard Tyrese Haliburton. Okongwu’s status was cast into doubt on draft day with reports of a foot injury that could delay his debut. Atlanta, picking directly ahead of the Pistons, will get first pick of that group if Wiseman, Edwards, Ball, Avdija and Toppin are the first five off the board.

Among projected top-20 picks, the Pistons had self-reported workouts with six prospects: Hayes, Haliburton, Alabama guard Kira Lewis, Vanderbilt wing Aaron Nesmith and American native R.J. Hampton, who spent last season playing professionally in New Zealand. They participated in Ball’s workout held for the Pistons, Golden State and Charlotte, teams picking second and third.

The Pistons have no second-round pick this season, their 2020 second-rounder having been traded five years ago to Phoenix for Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock. The pick currently belongs to Sacramento. Weaver recently expressed strong interest in finding a way to obtain a second-round pick, either via trade or by purchasing one outright.