Topic / Subject
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Kings are signing former No. 7 pick Killian Hayes to a 10-day contract for backcourt depth.

TL;DR
Sacramento is giving Killian Hayes a 10-day tryout, per Shams. It’s low-risk depth for the Kings and a short, high-pressure runway for Hayes.

Key Details

• ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Sacramento is signing Killian Hayes to a 10-day deal.
• Shams posted the report on X as well.
• NBC Sports Bay Area notes Sacramento also made a separate roster move involving Patrick Baldwin Jr. while adding Hayes.
• Hayes was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and is getting a short runway to earn a longer stay.

Breakdown
This is the classic “quick audition” move. When teams need bodies—or want a no-risk look at a former high pick—10-days are the cleanest way to do it.

For Hayes, it’s a chance to flip the narrative. A 10-day doesn’t promise minutes, and it doesn’t promise a second contract, but it does put him back in an NBA building with a real opportunity to show he can help a rotation.

For the Kings, it’s simple: backcourt depth and optionality. If it clicks, you keep looking. If it doesn’t, you move on without long-term baggage.

The only thing we can’t project from the reporting is role. Until he’s with the team, any “he’ll play X minutes” talk is guesswork.

What to Watch Next

• Whether Hayes cracks the game rotation immediately or starts as emergency depth.
• If the Kings convert interest into a second 10-day or a rest-of-season deal (not reported yet).
• How the rest of Sacramento’s roster shuffle impacts the guard minutes.

Sources

• ESPN — Shams Charania report on Kings signing Killian Hayes (headline not provided)
• Shams Charania (X) — post reporting the 10-day deal (headline not provided)
• NBC Sports Bay Area — “Kings sign Patrick Baldwin Jr. to two-way contract, reportedly add Killian Hayes”

Comment
Do you think Hayes can turn a 10-day into a real comeback, or is this just emergency depth for Sacramento?