[Feigen] Rockets inquire about Chuck Hayes' status

[H-TOWNSFINEST]

The Rockets on Monday made inquiries about the prognosis of former Rockets forward Chuck Hayes to determine if his medical condition might allow him to be a free-agent option again, a person with knowledge of the talks said. The Kings voided Hayes' $21.3 million, four-year contract on Monday, days after Hayes failed a team physical. The team had announced last week that an abnormality was found during a heart examination. No additional information was made available at Hayes' request. Hayes broke into the league in 2005-06, the season after his predecessor at power forward for the Rockets, Juwan Howard, was sidelined because of a heart condition. With Howard's return uncertain, the Rockets signed Stromile Swift and brought Hayes to camp as an undrafted free agent. Howard recovered, played the next season and is still in the league. Hayes was cut but brought back during the season, his first of six with the Rockets. Hayes is coming off his best season, averaging 7.9 points and 8.1 rebounds as the shortest starting center in NBA history.

You can read the rest of the article here.
http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/...us-2413446.php

BRING THE CHUCKWAGON HOME!!

[cujo]

Even if Hayes can't play yet, he would be great in the locker room for the young guys. I hope things work out for him health wise and career wise. He deserves the best.

[pge71188]

Would only bring him back as an assistant only not as a player.

[Furious Jam]

He would be the 2nd best center on our team and only the 3rd best power forward. Do we really need this guy back?

[Pizza_Da_Hut]

Originally Posted by pge71188 Would only bring him back as an assistant only not as a player.

Why? If the guy can still play, then he's better than nothing. We have no legitimate big. Plus, chances are we wouldn't give him the same deal he got from the kings, most likely it would be a lot less. In the end, we would bring home veteran leadership, a fan favorite, and a solution (albeit poor) to our current lack of a center. This is all win for Houston assuming Hayes can play. Plus, the guy is a class act, he deserves our respect.

[ico4498]

would be great for team morale if Chuck returns. the PR shouldn't be too shabby either.

[Know Your Role]

Look I mean I want the Rockets to rebuild as well, but Chuck Wagon needs to come back home. Lets just pretend Twill is the elite star we have been waiting for and build around him. It couldnt be worse that building around steve francis.

[Sydeffect]

Originally Posted by Furious Jam He would be the 2nd best center on our team and only the 3rd best power forward. Do we really need this guy back?

[dobro1229]

Originally Posted by Furious Jam He would be the 2nd best center on our team and only the 3rd best power forward. Do we really need this guy back?

At the expense of future salary cap plans?.. No. For depth at the big spot this year... YES. One rolled ankle and the Rockets frontcourt goes thin real quick. Chuck would obviously not be relied upon to play heavy minutes at the Center position, so a little depth goes a long way. If they can get him at the cap hold for a year, its a no-brainer to pick him back up for the season.

[daywalker02]

Don't jump to your conclusions until you have hard hard facts AND the results are OUT.

[jmwilliamson]

Those of you who have convinced yourself that Hayes isn't leaps and bounds better than anybody we have manning the center position are kidding yourselves. Get over his size. He knows how to play.

[ascaptjack]

I thought we were rebuilding?

[knote32]

Originally Posted by jmwilliamson Those of you who have convinced yourself that Hayes isn't leaps and bounds better than anybody we have manning the center position are kidding yourselves. Get over his size. He knows how to play.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen...

[ico4498]

if the Rockets bring back Hayes the players will no longer be "assets".

... until the next trade.

[JayGoogle]

Originally Posted by ascaptjack I thought we were rebuilding?

This.

I wish Chuck well but if he comes back he's going to take Minutes from Hill and Patterson. I don't know if I like that. I want those guys to play as much as possible. If you are going to rebuild you gotta live and die with your young players.

[jc9495]

Jordan Hill and Thabeet can be foul machines... I'm not sold on Patterson being a legit C for any more than a few spot minutes during the season. If healthy, he would be a nice acquisition and is a better post defender/(big man) passer than anyone on our team. I am all for giving Jordan Hill the reigns at C and giving him starter minutes, but with Hayes you know what you are going to get not even counting the intangibles. Im glad this team isn't going to overpay for Dalambert, although there needs to be more roster movement. This team is on a fast-track to 9th place again, with or without Chuck.

[ROXTXIA]

Originally Posted by dobro1229 At the expense of future salary cap plans?.. No. For depth at the big spot this year... YES.

As to your first point, unless we trade for a star this year (and we know how that tends to go), we won't lure anyone with cap space. And if we do get a star via trade, unless we line up the 2nd star real quick with cap space next summer, the first star will want to bolt anyway.

So I go for the "depth at the big" 2nd idea. IF Hayes' problem is very minor. I found I have a mitral valve prolapse (wonder if I got that right). Very minor condition, shouldn't affect my life. With Chuck, we'll see.

[cod]

Originally Posted by ico4498 would be great for team morale if Chuck returns. the PR shouldn't be too shabby either.

About PR. Petrie's a respected GM and been there for a long time.

Would it rub the other GMs the wrong way if they thought Petrie was made to look incompetent or even disingenuous by the Rockets signing Hayes?

[Patience]

Gak. I misread the article at first and thought it said we had signed Stromile Swift to replace Hayes THIS YEAR. whew.

[dachuda86]

Originally Posted by cod About PR. Petrie's a respected GM and been there for a long time. Would it rub the other GMs the wrong way if they thought Petrie was made to look incompetent or even disingenuous by the Rockets signing Hayes?

that's business.