The Sacramento Kings have made more moves than some people realize this offseason. That includes letting several players' contracts end as well as waiving a few. One guy they should look at bringing back is Killian Hayes, a young point guard who is eligible for a veteran minimum contract.
Hayes is a 25-year-old point guard with experience in Europe and in the NBA. His European career started in 2017 and ended in 2020 when he was drafted seventh overall by the Pistons. This led to four seasons in Detroit while the franchise tried to find their footing and rebuild.
Unfortunately for Hayes, part of that Detroit rebuild was losing him from the roster. Since leaving the Pistons in 2024, he has bounced around the NBA and the G League trying to find a permanent spot. That led him to the Kings in late 2026 when they needed help during their run of injuries.
The Kings chose to use their team option to waive Hayes' second season with them. He now finds himself as an unrestricted free agent once again who is hoping to secure a spot for 2026-2027. Training camp season will be key for him, though there is plenty of interest coming from Europe.
Hayes on the Kings round two
Sacramento's starting point guard is Darius Acuff Jr., a rookie who needs backup. That's why the Kings signed a returning Ben Simmons to be their secondary. The reality is that Simmons has long-term injury issues that include major back problems. Sacramento needs a third-string.
That's where Hayes comes in. He's a reliable point guard off the bench who can take the pressure off Acuff when needed and keep the Kings from being over-reliant on Simmons. Plus, Hayes is eligible for a veteran minimum contract, meaning that Sacramento can actually afford to have him on the roster.
Of course, that assumes that Hayes wants to come back to the Kings after they released him. Again, Hayes does have plenty of interest coming from Europe as well as a potential return to the G League. He's not without options, particularly if an NBA team decides to give him a training camp berth.
The Kings need another dedicated point guard available on the bench, without question. Hayes is a great option for them, and someone who has earned a stable spot. The Pistons chose to rebuild without him, but Hayes could still play a role in getting the Kings back to the island of relevancy.
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