Rockets sign Chuck Hayes

The Houston Rockets have signed veteran center Chuck Hayes, the team announced Sunday.

The deal is non-guaranteed for the veteran's minimum, according to ESPN's Calvin Watkins.

Hayes is currently in Miami attending shootaround with his new teammates as the Rockets prepare for a Sunday night matchup with the Heat.

Hayes, 32, had originally agreed to a one-year contract with Houston for the veteran's minimum in the offseason, but the deal was never finalized due to the team's limited roster flexibility.

He then signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 0.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in four preseason appearances. Hayes was waived by the team on Oct. 24.

This will be Hayes' 11th season in the NBA since going undrafted in 2005. He played the first six years of his career with the Rockets.

Hayes was last a member of the Toronto Raptors during the 2014-15 campaign, averaging 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 29 appearances.

Had he not latched onto an NBA roster, Hayes was reportedly considering becoming a coach, with the Rockets having shown interest in making him an assistant.

The Rockets' frontcourt has a history of being depleted by injuries, with Dwight Howard, Terrence Jones, and Donatas Motiejunas all missing significant stretches last season. Jones has been ruled out of Sunday's game with a cut above his eye, while Motiejunas has yet to play as he recovers from back surgery. Howard will also sit on the first night of a back to back.

Hayes provides little in the way of offense, but does have value as a stout defender in the post who can help clear larger bigs out of the paint with his low center of gravity.