If Cavs go guard in 2020 NBA Draft, Killian Hayes is their all-around guy

Hayes could be a key contributor in slower and faster-paced styles for the Cleveland Cavaliers

The other selling point for Hayes is that he would seem to be able to have a considerable impact in both more controlled or faster-paced styles.

Hayes is a player that thrives in the open floor, and is again a highly capable finisher that can quickly attack in secondary transition when mismatches call for it, too. That’s something that stands out with him, and in transition perhaps in operating with KPJ or Larry Nance Jr., I’d imagine Hayes would do particularly well.

That also factors in with Hayes’ defensive feel for getting his hands in passing lanes and generating run-outs, too.

On the other end of the spectrum, Hayes should still fit into more controlled offensive flow, and while his selection by the Cavs could lead to Garland eventually shifting more to a bench role, I firmly believe Hayes could still get time alongside Garland, too.

Those two could feed each other throughout games, and Hayes should be able to generate a number of quality opportunities for Nance, Love, Windler and company.

Looking forward, while Hayes might not be my first choice for the Cavaliers, who are guaranteed to have a top six pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he could prove to be the best all-around guard in his class. I’d still like to see Garland, who is a much better shooter, even more so off-the-bounce, than his rookie year showed, get plenty of starting opportunities next season, whether Hayes is eventually picked or not.

A suggested free agent target in Josh Jackson could prove to help out the Garland-Sexton backcourt, too, and with Garland fully ready to go, I believe he’s definitely capable of having a much better/bounce-back campaign.

At the very least, though, if Cleveland went with Hayes in the 2020 NBA Draft, he would seem to be a key piece for the near future. If that eventually means Garland moves to a bench role, then that’s what happens, or maybe the Cavs look to trade Garland down the road.

We’ll have to see what the Cavaliers do in the near future/the upcoming draft to know more in relation to that.