The Brooklyn Nets have signed former lottery pick guard Killian Hayes and forward Tyrese Martin on Friday.
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These two free agents signed with the Nets less than a month before the start of the regular season. Hayes, who was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, spent the last three and a half seasons with the Detroit Pistons before he was waived in Feb. 2024.
The report of Hayes signing with the Nets was first reported in late July. Although Hayes signed an Exhibit-10 contract, he is expected to be given an opportunity to earn a regular-season roster spot.
Killian Hayes #7 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets at Little Caesars Arena on December 18, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. The Brooklyn Nets have signed former lottery pick guard Killian Hayes.
Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
The 23-year-old was taken by the Pistons in 2020. He’s averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 210 games (145 starts) with Detroit. The Florida native never seemed to find his groove with the Pistons. He never played an entire season in the first four years of his career.
The most games Hayes has played is 76, which came in the 2023-24 season Hayes’ best season came in 2023-24, where he averaged 10.3 points per game, 6.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals while shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 28 percent from three.
Before the Pistons waived Hayes, he played in 42 games with 31 starts, averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per contest. He shot 41.3 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from 3-point range.
Although he struggled mightily with the Pistons, he could be of great use to the Nets. Hayes is still young and could be a pivotal piece to the Nets this season. While the Nets aren’t projected to do well, Hayes could revitalize his career this upcoming season.
Prior to being a high draft pick in the NBA, Hayes played for Cholet Basket in the Pro A league in France from 2017-19 at the age of 16. He finished the season averaging 2.2 points and 1.2 assists in 9.1 minutes per game, through nine appearances.
After two seasons there, he played one year with Ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) despite signing a three-year contract. The COVID-19 pandemic suspended the BBL league, and he ultimately declared for the 2020 NBA Draft in March.
As for Martin, he will suit up for the Nets in training camp but will likely end up on the club’s G League team, the Long Island Nets.
The 25-year-old spent the 2023-24 campaign with the G League’s Iowa Wolves, during which he averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.9 steals over 35.1 minutes per game over 33 appearances.
The Golden State Warriors drafted Martin in the 2022 NBA Draft with the No. 51 overall pick.
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