Has Troy Weaver’s first draft pick as Detroit Pistons general manager been a bust? It’s getting more difficult to find a glimmer of hope, but tonight offers a chance to move a step in the right direction.

The Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t have been on the schedule at a better time for Killian Hayes.

It’s been no secret that Hayes has played some of his best basketball against the Thunder. His career averages of 13.8 points, 6.8 assist and 4 rebounds per game in the series, offers room for optimism among Hayes’ supporters.

But with the way the season has started, a good game tonight may not be enough to change the feelings of most fans that want to see him traded.

Game Details

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder (4-5) @ Detroit Pistons (2-8) (Regular Season)

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

When/Watch: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, Bally Sports Detroit

With averages on the season of 2.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 3.2 APG it will take a lot more than a good game to warm back up to Hayes.

As an avid supporter of Troy Weaver’s first draft pick as Pistons GM, it’s been beyond disappointing to see flashes of what Hayes could be amidst a flood of mediocre to bad basketball.

A player many fans hoped for in the same draft was Tyrese Haliburton, picked 5 spots later. Haliburton has looked like an All-Star in year three for the Indiana Pacers, averaging 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and a massive 9.3 assist per game.

Safe to say that was definitely a missed pick by Troy Weaver, but he didn’t rest on his heels. He usually does the driving at his own pace, never sped up by fans, media or other teams. If you had to grade his time as general manager, he would undoubtedly pass, but this pick has become a hot point to criticize.

Whether Weaver deserves to be criticized or not, he did draft guards in the following two drafts.

Cade Cunningham was a sure pick, but Weaver admitted they may have had Jalen Duren higher atop their draft board. So, was Jaden Ivey a chance Weaver saw to make up for the Hayes pick?

The hope coming in to the season was that Cunningham, Ivey and Hayes would form a solid 3-guard rotation. With Hayes able to play star minutes, as well as defense at end of games. Now it is looking like that role may be lost on him, after showing promise toward end of last season.

Marvin Bagley III, Jalen Duren and Alec Burks are all set to return from injury, which should help. Hayes, Cunningham and Ivey could all use a boost in the pick and roll game with Bagley. Last season, upon Bagley’s arrival, the team’s offense with Cade’s high usage improved.

This is why you hire a Troy Weaver because not every pick will pan out.

We’ve seen prior GM’s hold on to players that should have been traded sooner, to the detriment of the teams future.

In the case of Weaver, he has given the organization time to see all options. Whether it’s trade, or keep, Weaver is showing that Hayes won’t delay things much. Which should ease fan angst, too.

So the only person who should be worrying, is Killian Hayes. Tonight is a big opportunity toward getting on track, and proving these woes a thing of the past.