The 2020 Rookies Thread

[treefi]

Preseason has started! NBA basketball is back. We've got a great 2020 rookie class this year.

PG - Killian Hayes - 6'5" - 215 pounds - 6'7" wingspan - 19 years old
2/7 field goals, 0/3 from 3, 1/1 free throws, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 7 turnovers, 21 minutes, -5 on court

SF - Saddiq Bey - 6'8" - 216 pounds - 6'11" wingspan - 21 years old
4/12 field goals, 3/9 from 3, 3/4 free throws, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 0 turnovers, 19 minutes +9 on court

C - Isaiah Stewart - 6'9" - 247 pounds - 7'4" wingspan - 19 years old
1/2 field goals, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 7 minutes, +9 on court

PG - Saben Lee - 6'2" - 183 pounds - 6'9" wingspan - 21 years old
0/2 free throws, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 9 minutes, +8 on court

How do you guys think they looked tonight against New York?

[zeebneeb]

I am enamored with Bey. Got a real baller at 19 and I can't believe it.

That is all.

[mattao313]

Hayes was definitely booty cheeks, but he seemed nervous imo. He didnt look that slow and I think they should have ran him in more pnr but he was making so terrible mistakes so I understand why they didnt do it much. Wish we would have kept Wood and Kennard I feel like they would have been better fitting pieces to help him develop.

Bey was nice he did his thing and stuck to what he was good at he will probably start.

[DBC10]

Hayes was definitely booty cheeks, but he seemed nervous imo. He didnt look that slow and I think they should have ran him in more pnr but he was making so terrible mistakes so I understand why they didnt do it much. Wish we would have kept Wood and Kennard I feel like they would have been better fitting pieces to help him develop.

Bey was nice he did his thing and stuck to what he was good at he will probably start.

He was absolutely shook by Elfrid Paytons amd Frank's defense in the second half. Good defenses are something he's going to have to get through as a youngster. Otherwise he's going to get his lunch money stolen for needless TOs frequently.

Stewart looked like an animal jumping for those rebounds. He's going to be solid and I think he'll prove people wrong for the reach comments

[440BB]

I expected Hayes to struggle and this first season will be rough. Lots for a PG to learn without any real preseason or summer league. As long he shows improvement over the course of the season, that's OK with me.

The other three picks all show promise, with Stewart and Bey looking like they should be in the rotation from day one. Lee might be a good fit after Rose is traded.

I'm awfully glad Weaver worked in those extra three picks.

[whitehops]

obviously could be coach-speak but casey likes what he sees so far:

Read on Twitter

[edmunder_prc]

PG - Saben Lee - 6'2" - 183 pounds - 6'9" wingspan - 21 years old
0/2 free throws, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 9 minutes, +8 on court

Did not realize that Saben Lee had a 6'9" Wingpsan. He looked taller than 6'2" but maybe thats because he is so lanky.

He already had great poise in the game, better than Hayes by a country mile. He is 21 so hes a bit older than most 1st rounders but I like what I see.

Only shot .322 from the three last year, but 75% from the FT line. Usually better to see guards shooting the high 80s to show they have elite touch.

Who knows, its another lottery ticket.

[Snakebites]

It was hard to watch Hayes yesterday TBH.


He had maybe one or 2 plays where he looked decent. Too early to worry though.

[zeebneeb]

It was hard to watch Hayes yesterday TBH.


He had maybe one or 2 plays where he looked decent. Too early to worry though.

Whats encouraging? He found certain guys in a way that shows court vision. You can't learn that. You either have it, or don't.

What's not? He was so nervous out there, I almost vomited for him. It was apparent when he was under the basket smacking his head against the stanchion after a turnover. Put way to much pressure on himself to show out. He also kept picking up his dribble when he went right. He absolutely, positively has to use his right hand as much, or even more then his left for this entire year. He should be drilling 3-6 hours A DAY with his left hand tied behind him.

Hayes has excellent size, and speed, along with craftiness with the ball that was demonstrated several times when getting by his defender. His vision is also +. The hand dominance is a brutal weakness that must be corrected. Now in this game asshat Thibs played his guys like is was game 7 of the finals, it's what his teams do. They pressured him hard, and knew exactly when to trap(going left)and when to shade him right.

It was tough to watch.

[whitehops]

Did not realize that Saben Lee had a 6'9" Wingpsan. He looked taller than 6'2" but maybe thats because he is so lanky.

fun fact: Svi actually has the shortest wingspan on the team at 6'6. everyone else (can't find rodney mcgruder's) has a bigger wingspan, and our PGs especially are long relative to position.

makes me think that we'll be a switch-heavy defense when the season starts rolling.

[hoophabit]

Don't want any observations taken too seriously. First preseason game for a largely reconstructed team that first practiced together as a whole last Sunday. Thought the team looked out of sync. No one had a great shooting night.

Hayes looked okay to me, but I expected him to struggle. He's a 19 YO PG getting his first NBA minutes. Tried to make some passes that used to work but won't now. Liked that he was trying to be aggressive.

Stewart was a dynamo and isn't afraid of contact. If you take last night as an indicator, his rebounding might be essential in avoiding complete humiliation.

Bey (21 YO) looks like a solid versatile basketball player. He has a quick smooth stroke. Despite sharing the scoring lead, last night wasn't a good shooting night for him by historical average.

Lee didn't show much last night. Didn't see the amazing speed, hops, or drive to the basket. Still, as the team sorts things out different opportunities might occur.

The fun this year will be in seeing how the new look Pistons develop.

[JustinSane]

I do feel that Hayes played slow, but whether that's due to nerves, footspeed or overthinking things I have no idea. It could be a combination of any or all of those factors. One thing I found quite encouraging was his defense. On one play, he got switched off on to Julius Randle in the post, and he held up admirably, held his ground and harassed him with quick hands. Randle is not a small man or easy to guard down low.

Bey didn't shoot very well, but other than that looked like a steal.

Stewart is my favorite player Weaver has brought in. He's got so much hustle. Not only that, but he seemed to have impressive full court awareness to me. I suspect with experience he'll be one of those players who seems to always be in the right spot just a little bit ahead of when most guys would get there, like a Marc Gasol. Incredibly small sample size, of course.

[dVs33]

I was happy with all of them.
Hayes sucked, but he will take time to be settled with the pace of everything. He’s got great size and he’s not as slow as I thought he was.
Stewart played 100 percent the whole time. That attitude is so important.
Bey looked really poised and he will definitely get his shooting numbers up.
Lee was surprising good. Good size, poised... pretty good for a 2nd round.

Looking forward to this year.

[LaSheed]

With the draft being less than a month away I thought that rookies around the eagle had a good showing for their 1st games.

Obviously some stunk it up. But not bad for a weak draft.

[Invictus88]

With the draft being less than a month away I thought that rookies around the eagle had a good showing for their 1st games.

Obviously some stunk it up. But not bad for a weak draft.

I think it's going to be close to impossible to compare this draft class with any other until several years have passed. There's just too many different circumstances affecting their development that no other class has had to encounter.

It's definitely fun to watch it unfold though

[Moses ShamMoses]

Saben Lee didn't look like a natural point guard to me. More of a combo guard, Brandon Knight type. Hopefully he changes my mind. Obviously, 1 preseason game so need more evidence to back up any claims.

[zeebneeb]

Saben Lee didn't look like a natural point guard to me. More of a combo guard, Brandon Knight type. Hopefully he changes my mind. Obviously, 1 preseason game so need more evidence to back up any claims.

Thats the feeling i got from him as well, so your not alone.

That whole game had a wierd vibe to it. Everything seemed so disorganized, and chaotic. I expect by game 4 of the preseason, things will start to look a little more organized.

[Han Solo]

Hayes is going to look better tonight. Then the “sky is falling crowd” will look bad as usual. Even if he busts, he’s who 95% of Detroit’s fan base wanted across all forums. So if he sucks, it’s not just Weaver who missed here.

My favorite in the draft for point guards was Kira Lewis Jr, but I like Hayes and I think he’s going to be alright. The game will slow down for him throughout the year. The talent is there. Think he can get separation any time he wants. Just has to work on turnovers and making good decisions. He will figure it out.

[bstein14]

I don't think Hayes will be a bust, but I do think he was hyped up a bit as someone who is more ready because of 3 years of pro experience in Europe. In reality, he seemed more tentative and deer in headlights than the other two first rounders we have who played college ball.

I still have high hopes but my expectations certainly dropped for him for this season as I was hoping he'd be in the ROY race since he was announced to have the starting job I got even more excited.

One game doesn't mean anything in the long term, but in the short term he's got a longer ways to go this year than I originally thought.

If you look at the Ball highlights from the Charlotte games Ball is leaps ahead of Hayes at the moment just more NBA ready.

[Moses ShamMoses]

When it comes to rookies, preseason is a good time to watch for style of play, areas of improvement, and readiness (do they look overmatched?). You have to expect rookie mistakes, its part of the gig. Yes, Hayes made rookie mistakes but didn't look completely overmatched or out of place. He also looked like a true point guard so that excites me

Will he be a bust? Who the heck knows. Let's just watch it unfold and enjoy the process.