Clippers sign Chuck Hayes to reported 1-year deal
Veteran big man Chuck Hayes has found a new home with the Los Angeles Clippers, the team announced Monday.
Hayes signed a one-year contract, according to Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears. The Orange County Register's Dan Woike adds that the deal is not fully guaranteed.
The 32-year-old was originally set to join the Rockets on a reported veteran's minimum deal, but that didn't work out due to Houston's "limited roster flexibility and other financial considerations."
He will enter his 11th season in the NBA, having spent the 2014-15 campaign north of the border with the Toronto Raptors, where he struggled to get consistent playing time. In 29 appearances, Hayes averaged 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game.
With the Clippers, Hayes should provide some insurance at the five-spot behind center DeAndre Jordan, who re-upped with the team this offseason on a max contract of $87.7 million over four years. While undersized for the position at 6-foot-6, Hayes is more than capable of holding his own defensively around the rim, using his wide 240-pound frame to establish himself down low.
His best season statistically came back in 2010-11 with the Rockets. He posted averages of 7.9 points and 8.1 rebounds, starting 63 of his 79 games.