Kings using another 10-day to evaluate traditional PG Killian Hayes

With the end of the Sacramento Kings’ (14-49) 2025-26 NBA season winding down, they’ve brought two former first-round picks to have the chance to evaluate over the remaining games.

New two-way player Patrick Baldwin Jr., a former top high school prospect, was selected in the late first-round by the Golden State Warriors in 2022. But it’s also the second straight season that Sacramento has brought in a point guard who was selected in the lottery.

Last season, Markelle Fultz spent a short stint in California’s capital. Now, it’s the seventh round pick from the 2020 Draft, Killian Hayes, who they signed to a 10-day contract.

The French player has a background with Sacramento’s most recent second-round pick, Maxime Raynaud, who is also from France.

“That was more someone that I would look up to,” Raynaud said of Hayes following Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. When Hayes was drafted seventh by Detroit, he was the highest-drafted French player of all time. Raynaud joked that he was the county’s “golden boy.”

Of course, eventually generational prospect and first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama overtook that, but Hayes had unquestionable skill and intrigue when entering the NBA.

“He’s definitely adding some continuity at the point because he’s a true point guard, and that’s what we needed coming off the bench,” Raynaud continued. “So, really happy for him that he got those reps, and then really happy for being able to speak French with someone. That’s cool.”

Following their team practices the day after, the Kings’ head coach Doug Christie echoed the importance of having that traditional point guard available to them.

“When he’s running the point, you can see he’s going to call a play,” he said. “He’s going to get us into something.” Of course, that role also comes with the responsibility of defending the point of attack on the other end. “His pickup points on defense have been really good,” Christie continued.

After a disappointing three seasons with the Pistons, where he certainly didn’t live up to expectations, he’s spent a good amount of time in the NBA G-League. Before signing with the Kings, he was a member of the Cavaliers’ affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.

In 19 games played with them, the 6’4 guard averaged an impressive 22.4 points, 8.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. After converting 41.7 percent of his triples with the Long Island Nets last season in the G-League, that number dipped to 31.8 percent with the charge.

Of course, he’s been asked to play a notably different role compared to the 32.9 minutes per game he saw as a member of the Charge.

“The shots that he’s been getting were similar shots (to now),” Christie said when comparing then to his current role with the Kings. “Now, not with the same aggressiveness and all of that type of stuff, and that’s why we’ve got him shooting some game-like shots, so that he can find that rhythm in his game.” Hayes was actively getting in extra shots with some of their developmental coaches after practice, as his coach commented on him.

“He’s shooting them, but trying to run an offense, trying to understand terminology, there’s a lot probably going through his head,” he continued. “And for him, like making shots, isn’t going to be whether you are playing well or not? It’s are you picking up? Are you running the team? Are you finding the open man? Are you making sure that we’re getting into something constantly?”

Tallying 65 minutes in his five games played with Sacramento provides a very limited sample size and time for Hayes to adjust to a new environment, scheme, and teammates. His 10-day contract was set to end on Thursday, the night of their home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

According to Michael Scotto, NBA Insider for HoopsHype, the Kings elected to extend Hayes the morning prior to that matchup. That will allow him to play in another six games as general manager Scott Perry continued to evaluate his performance.

Taking fliers on clearly talented, young players who flamed out in other scenarios seems like the right idea, given the Kings’ placement at the bottom of the league’s standings.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

• Did the Kings miss out on Jonathan Kuminga?
• Report: Domantas Sabonis offseason trade ‘not a certainty’
• Darryn Peterson responds to availability criticism: ‘Basketball is my life.’
• Draft Expert: Kings fans should ‘throw a parade’ if Dybantsa lands in SAC

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

The Sacramento Kings will continue a five-game homestand on Thursday night when they face the New Orleans Pelicans at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento dropped an ugly 120-94 contest on February 9th in New Orleans, a game in which the Pelicans shot 54 percent from the field.

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

• Thursday, March 5th vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PT
• Sunday, March 8th vs. Chicago Bulls – 6:00 PM PT
• Tuesday, March 10th vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM PT
• Wednesday, March 11th vs. Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 PM PT
• Saturday, March 14th @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PT

Thank you for reading sactownsports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related

Sources: Zach LaVine will not be bought out by SacramentoWho will be Sacramento’s backup center: Raynaud or Cardwell?Why being counted out could help the Sacramento KingsJerry Reynolds on what the Kings should do with Sabonis & LaVineShould the Sacramento Kings have done more this offseason?NBA Insider believes Darius Acuff Jr. can change the Kings’ culture