According to Killian Hayes’ agent, Yann Balikouzou, the point guard had a video interview with the New York Knicks.
Ian Begley of SNY notes that Hayes has talked with “dozens” of teams, including ones outside the NBA lottery, and that he doesn’t plan to meet with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have the second-best odds to win the lottery.
Balikouzou said on the Envergure podcast last month that Hayes had talked to dozens of teams. Some of those teams did not have a lottery pick, which is an indication that teams are at least considering trading up in the draft for a player like Hayes.
While Hayes interviewed with the Knicks, Balikouzou said his client hasn’t spoken to every lottery team. Balikouzou said Hayes would likely speak with Minnesota and Golden State but didn’t plan to do an interview with Cleveland.
“It’s not a secret, they probably won’t draft a guard,†Balikouzou, of ISE, said in the interview, which was conducted in French and translated. “….The chances they’d draft a guard are really thin.â€
Hayes played for the Ratiopharm Ulm in the EuroCup last season. He averaged 12.8 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from beyond the arc. The two seasons prior Hayes played for Cholet in the LNB Pro A.
The Knicks have the sixth-best odds to win the lottery. They also have the Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round draft selection, which came in a midseason trade that sent Marcus Morris to the West Coast, and their own second-round selection (38).
New York currently has point guards Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. entering the final seasons of their rookie deals, and they have a team option on Elfrid Payton for the 2020-21 NBA season ($8 million).
Hayes is one of many guards who have been linked to the Knicks for this year’s NBA Draft. Others include LaMelo Ball, Cole Anthony, and R.J. Hampton.