In November 2020, Killian Hayes was a lottery pick, taken seventh overall by Detroit. About a year ago — Feb. 7 — he still was starting for the Pistons.
Now? The 23-year-old spent this season toiling in the G League, trying to earn his way back to the NBA.
It’s been a long climb, culminating in a 10-day contract with the Nets. It’s a short-term, show-me type of deal — one he’s thankful to have.
“I felt very grateful. I felt like a lot of work got put into this, and I’m just very grateful for this opportunity,” said Hayes, who scored five points in 21 minutes in the Nets’ 110-97 loss to the Cavaliers. “I’m very grateful for this time in Long Island. From the coaching staff to my brothers over there. It was a learning curve, and I’m just happy to be back here.
“[I’ll] just do whatever I’m asked. Just play hard, go out there, play ball. Any excitement I have, just give it my all, really.”
Hayes came to camp with the Nets but suffered a hip injury.
They inked him to a G League deal, and he averaged 21 points and 8.3 assists in the regular season. Most auspicious was his 40.3 percent from deep.
“I mean, that’s just God’s plan, man,” Hayes said. “Injuries happen. That got in the way, and just going to Long Island, having that whole process and just learning curve and just adapting, and just thinking with it, working hard, and just keep believing my opportunity will come. And I’m just happy to be back here.”
Hayes is in Brooklyn to try out for backup point guard, a spot open since the Nets bought out Ben Simmons.
“Having a quote-unquote traditional backup point guard also is good for us. Give it a look. This 10-day is important, not just for him, but also for us,” Jordi Fernandez said. “And he can do the things we ask him to do, we know who he is. That’s the reason why we brought him in the first place.”
The Nets filled their other open roster spot by converting two-way Tyrese Martin to a standard deal.
“My agent ended up reaching out to me, told me that they were in talks and things like that. So it ended up getting done a couple days ago,” Martin said.
“It took a lot of hard work. So that’s not going to change. But it definitely was like a weight on my shoulders lifted off when it happened. You know, was able to like, just enjoy the break, mind free, things like that, to know this moment was coming for me, for sure.”
The Nets sent two-way Tosan Evbuomwan to the G League.
Two-ways ostensibly get to spend 50 games active in the NBA, but that is prorated from when they’re signed.
He was inked on New Year’s Day about a third of the way into the season.
“He does have a limit,” Fernandez said. “He only has like 10, 11 games left. So if I do my math, because I can’t get to the end of the season. So the reason is we want to see how he impacts the group and he impacts winning.”
