Kings Sign Former Lottery Pick Killian Hayes to Two-Year Deal

Sacramento adds the 23-year-old guard on a multi-year contract ahead of matchup with Utah Jazz.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:40am

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The Sacramento Kings have signed former Detroit Pistons lottery pick Killian Hayes to a two-year contract, the team announced just hours before their game against the Utah Jazz. Hayes, the 7th overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, has struggled with efficiency in his NBA career so far but the Kings are giving him another opportunity to prove himself at the NBA level.

Why it matters

The Kings have been active in adding young talent to their roster as they look to build a competitive team around rising star De'Aaron Fox. Signing Hayes, a former high draft pick, to a multi-year deal shows the organization's commitment to developing young players and giving them a chance to succeed in the NBA.

The details

Hayes, 23, has spent time in the NBA G League over the past few seasons after being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2020. He has appeared in 10 games for the Kings since joining the team on a 10-day contract, averaging 3.8 points, 3.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. While his shooting efficiency has been poor at 26% from the field, the Kings see enough potential in Hayes to sign him to a two-year deal, the financial terms of which have not been disclosed.

  • The Kings announced the signing of Killian Hayes just hours before their game against the Utah Jazz on March 16, 2026.

The players

Killian Hayes

A 23-year-old guard who was the 7th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He has struggled with efficiency in his NBA career so far but the Kings are giving him another opportunity to prove himself.

De'Aaron Fox

The rising star point guard for the Sacramento Kings, who the organization is looking to build a competitive team around.

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What they’re saying

“Killian has shown flashes of his potential during his time with us on the 10-day contract, and we believe he can continue to develop and contribute to our team. We're excited to have him on board for the rest of the season and beyond.”

— Monte McNair, General Manager, Sacramento Kings (sportingnews.com)

What’s next

The Kings will look to integrate Hayes into their rotation as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. His performance over the remainder of the season will determine if the Kings keep him on the roster beyond this year.

The takeaway

The Kings' decision to sign Killian Hayes to a multi-year deal shows their commitment to developing young talent and giving former lottery picks a chance to prove themselves at the NBA level. While Hayes has struggled with efficiency so far in his career, the Kings are betting on his potential and hoping he can become a contributor as they build around their rising star De'Aaron Fox.