Former Brooklyn Nets guard Killian Hayes had been looking for his place in the NBA after being waived by the Detroit Pistons after four years with the franchise. Hayes came to Brooklyn last season on a 10-day contract looking to rebuild within the league and while he did not stay with the Nets, Hayes appears to have found a team that can use his talents.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on Tuesday that Hayes and the Cleveland Cavaliers had agreed to a deal, per Hayes’ agent Yann Balikouzou of Lift Sports Management. Over the course of one 10-day contract, Hayes played six games for the Nets and averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 41.9% from the field and 38.1% from three-point land.
According to a report from Eurohoops.net, Hayes had declined offers from European basketball teams like ASVEL so that he could focus on staying in the NBA and being ready for any opportunity that came his way. More to the point, the report went on to say that Hayes had received interest from teams like Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes, even though there weren’t any concrete offers presented to Hayes from those clubs.
Hayes had been fighting an uphill battle since being taken by the Pistons with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft as he was trying to prove that he was worthy of that pick amidst his struggles. With the Nets, Hayes filled in during a time when Brooklyn was dealing with some injuries to some of the ball-handlers, but head coach Jordi Fernandez recognized that Hayes was doing what was asked of him.
“I think he did a good job sharing the basketball. The way he’s assisting is good,” Fernandez said of Hayes after a loss to the Washington Wizards in which he put up seven points and eight assists. “I need him to be aggressive as well. Be aggressive in the way he has to push the ball and get more attempts, get to the rim, stay away from tough mid-range shots. I want him to shoot more threes. Three (attempts) is not enough, I need to see him letting it fly.”
Hayes will be joining a Cavaliers team with plenty of depth at the guard spots with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell entering the 2025-26 season as the starting point guard and shooting guard, respectively. It should be noted that Cleveland still had two spots to fill prior to the report of the Hayes signing so the French native could be in a spot where his efforts could lead to him securing a roster spot.
Former Nets G Killian Hayes has found his place with the Cavaliers. https://t.co/9c5Utv9k8d
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) September 23, 2025
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Former Nets G Killian Hayes signs with the Cavaliers
