Detroit — In his rookie season, Killian Hayes was limited to 26 games after missing three months because of a hip injury. It was a dark cloud over a season that brought optimism with the additions of two other NBA All-Rookie selections in the first round.
Even with the addition of Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick, Hayes still figures to play a prominent role as a primary ballhandler and initiator on offense. Coach Dwane Casey has said that Hayes and Cunningham are 1-A and 1-B as options, and it’s looking like that’ll be the case heading into the preseason.