Nets Opt Not To Re-Sign Former Lottery Pick Killian Hayes

The Nets have opted not to re-sign point guard Killian Hayes to a second 10-day contract, sources confirmed to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Hayes, who started in the Nets’ last five games, saw his initial contract expire following Saturday’s contest.

The Nets’ decision not to retain the 6-foot-5 guard suggests the impending return of point guard D’Angelo Russell, who has been sidelined since February 20 due to an ankle injury.

During his brief stint with Brooklyn, Hayes averaged 9.0 points, 5.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 27 minutes per game. His shooting splits were .419 from the field, .381 from three, and .833 from the free-throw line.

A former lottery pick, Hayes was selected by the Pistons with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. However, his tenure in Detroit was marked by struggles with offense, and he was unsigned for the entirety of the 2024-25 season until he signed with the Nets in February.

Across 216 career games (150 starts) with Detroit and Brooklyn, Hayes holds averages of 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

At 21-39, the Nets currently sit three games behind the Bulls for the Eastern Conference’s No. 10 seed and a spot in the play-in tournament (as of Sunday).

While Brooklyn is still in the playoff hunt, the decision to let Hayes go reflects a clear focus on development, with an eye toward the future rather than immediate postseason aspirations. You would think, anyway.