Houston Rockets sign Chuck Hayes

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

He’s back, for real this time…

Former Kentucky Wildcat Chuck Hayes is officially back with the Houston Rockets after Rocket’s General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent center.  Hayes will reportedly don #44 again.

Back in the summer, it looked like the Rockets would sign the veteran big man to a one-year-contract, but the deal fell through due to financial considerations and a lack of roster flexibility according to Haye’s agent.

It seems like Hayes and the Rockets have finally come to an agreement, just in time too, as the Rocket’s roster is plagued with injuries including fellow former Wildcat, Terrence Jones, and Donatas Montejunas. Hayes might fill in as a backup power forward until either Jones or Montejunas can return.

Hayes (6-6, 240) was not selected in the 2005 NBA Draft but signed with Houston during 2005-06 and spent his first six seasons with the Rockets.  He then played two-plus seasons with Sacramento until being traded to Toronto in December of 2013.  Hayes appeared in 29 games for the Raptors last season and was with the L.A. Clippers in training camp and preseason this year.

In 642 career games with 244 starts across 10 NBA seasons, Hayes has averaged 3.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes per game while shooting 49.8% from the floor.