Los Angeles Clippers roster news 2015: Veteran Chuck Hayes signs one-year deal
The Los Angeles Clippers added experience at the power forward and center position inking veteran Chuck Hayes to a one-year contract.
Last July, Hayes agreed to a one-year, veterans minimum deal with the Houston Rockets; but in a recent report by the Houston Chronicle, his agent Calvin Andrews discussed why the commitment was not pursued.
"I think when we came up with the agreement, after that point, they had some other activity, the Ty Lawson trade, the Jason Terry signing. That put Chuck in a precarious situation. The result of that squeezed him out of the equation," Andrews said, according to the report.
Andrews added, "They had some cap stuff they were concerned with. We didn't get into a lot of details. It's a tough situation. It's very disappointing. This is the business. These things happen."
Hayes signing with the Rockets was supposed to be a return for the veteran since he played his first six National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons with the team from 2005–2011.
The 32-year-old veteran also played his best NBA years with Houston and his best season came in his last year with the team during the 2010–11 season.
In that season, Hayes played in 74 regular season games which included 63 starts, averaging career- bests 7.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per outing.
After playing for the Rockets, Hayes also had stints with the Sacramento Kings and the Toronto Raptors where he spent the past two seasons.
Last season Hayes only played in a career-low 29 regular season games for Toronto and averaged 1.7 points with 1.8 rebounds per game.
Along with Hayes' experience, his defense is also a noteworthy part of his game that he can contribute to the Clippers.
The only issue is finding his spot in head coach Doc Rivers' rotation since Lob City is packed at the power forward and center position led by All-Star forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan.
This offseason, the Clippers also acquired forward Josh Smith and center Cole Aldrich, which makes Hayes likely the last option for Rivers.
