REPORT: Killian Hayes is the second PG on the Knicks’ board, after LaMelo Ball

Most of the folks who write for this website love French PG Killian Hayes. Our own Jonathan Schulman point-blank called Hayes the best player in this draft in his “Know the Prospect” profile. But Hayes’ stock seems to be all over the place in the leadup to the 2020 NBA Draft. That might be good (Hayes might slip to the Knicks at No. 8) and it might be bad (the Knicks might pass on him). We know New York’s front office loves fellow point guard LaMelo Ball, but what of Hayes?

Marc Berman of The Post may have provided us with a little bit of clarity, though. In his most recent article, he cites sources who claim the Knicks have Hayes at their second PG on the draft board.

It doesn’t mean the Knicks will pick him if he falls to No. 8 in the NBA Draft, but Killian Hayes currently has a narrow edge as the team’s second point guard on the board after LaMelo Ball, according to NBA sources.

Hayes, the 19-year-old left-hander who played in Germany last season, is considered to have a more supreme skill set than the other lottery-projected point guards such as Tyrese Haliburton, Kira Lewis, Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton, Theo Maledon and Tyrese Maxey.

We at P&T headquarters agree that Hayes is better than those guys! Cool!

Berman does, however, include the caveat this rating is no guarantee that the Knicks would select Hayes at No. 8. Disturbingly, Berman cites Dayton big man Obi Toppin as the player they would certainly pounce on if he drops that far. Toppin doesn’t have many fans on this site due to his horrific defense. Isaac Okoro is another non-PG Berman mentions. While I would pick Hayes over Okoro, he’s a much more palatable option than Toppin.

We have less than one month to go before the draft, with prospect workouts yet to come. Will Hayes last until No. 8? I doubt it. Will the Knicks choose him if he should fall? I hope so.