I really like Hayes. His dedication isn’t the issue. Yes he was late to a couple meetings this year but he is all energy all the time. He has worked his azz off. Great attitude. He has hit the weight room hard trying to bulk up. He is seen as a leader among this group. He gives everything he has to give. His issues are he is very underweight to be playing center. He is a good on-ball defender and great rim protector but just doesnt match up well against bigger centers. He cannot score facing the basket and in fact will rarely, if ever, attempt a shot facing the basket. Offensively his footwork is poor and he is often off balance. He also has really bad hands. Real difficulty in securing passes. He has been forced to be a starting center due to our circumstances. Ideally he would be a 4 or maybe even a backup 4/5 coming in to provide energy and spark the team. He would absolutely excel in that role. He is the type of player that every championship team has as a significant role player. But right now he is miscast as a starting center. I’d like to see him at 235 lbs. His frame can handle that and what a difference it would make.
Interesting, but you came around to my view in your second paragraph. The difference in them is hands. Hayes for some reason has as you say terrible and weak hands. Maybe he has small hands. Certainly he gets more dunk attempts poked away than any player I have ever seen.
I would like him at the four or really playing with a more powerful player ala Noah playing with Horford. The "rim protector" aspect could be recasts as he is really good at giving up offensive rebound slam dunks. I put that on White having him rarely play position defense and always trying to get the help block.
He still got killed in the first UAL game by guys no bigger than him. Lost of 6'9" 220 lbs guys are playing post positions in the SEC more successfully than Hayes. I think it is partly coaching, partly Hayes not being dedicated and partly scheme, ie wanting to play 6 or 7 guards on the court at one time.