After being hired in June, general manager Troy Weaver inherited the task of turning the Detroit Pistons into a contender. During his 12 seasons as an assistant GM with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Weaver developed a reputation as one of the best talent evaluators in the league.
On a night that saw a flurry of trades in Wednesday's 2020 NBA draft, the Pistons decided to stay put by drafting French point guard Killian Hayes, out of ratiopharm Ulm in Germany, with the seventh overall pick — their highest selection since taking Greg Monroe seventh in 2010.
Hayes is 6-foot-5 with a 6-8 wingspan. He turned 19 in July. He has been training with former Pistons guard Will Bynum.
Before the start of the draft, the Pistons acquired the No. 16 pick and Trevor Ariza from the Houston Rockets in exchange for a protected future first-rounder.
The Pistons will now turn their attention to free agency, which kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. Now armed with around $20 million in cap space, the organization is expected to continue remaking its roster following a 20-46 season.
For an organization that missed on too many lottery picks this past decade, Weaver's reputation was a major motivator behind his hire. The stakes felt high for the Pistons entering Wednesday, as he was tasked with making a selection at No. 7 that would set the franchise on the right path as it navigates the early stages of a rebuild.
