Los Angeles Clippers Rumors: Team Signs Chuck Hayes, Could Chris Singleton Be Next To Join Team?
The Los Angeles Clippers are still looking to fill out their training camp roster as they are now up to 16 players after the signing of veteran Chuck Hayes.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports first reported that the Clippers, who have been looking to add a veteran or two to their frontcourt depth, signed the 32-year old power forward-center.
The Clippers are signing veteran forward-center Chuck Hayes to a one-year deal, a source told Yahoo Sports.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 31, 2015
Hayes’ deal is for one-year and is not fully guaranteed according to Dan Woike of the Orange County Register.
Can confirms @SpearsNBAYahoo report on Clippers' agreement with Chuck Hayes. I'm told 1-year deal is not fully guaranteed.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) August 31, 2015
Hayes was expected to return to the Houston Rockets, where he played from 2005-11, this offseason, but he rejected the offer, according to the Houston Chronicle, because of the team’s limited roster flexibility and other financial considerations. The deal between Houston and Hayes was reportedly for the minimum with a partial guarantee.
The six-foot-six interior player is an end-of-the-bench type player who has a wonderful knack for hitting the boards. He is a solid post-defender and possesses a high motor but is very limited offensively. He averaged 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds last year while appearing in 29 games with the Toronto Raptors. For his career, Hayes averages 3.7 points along with 5.0 caroms a contest.
With Hayes in tow, the Clippers now have seven big men on the roster. DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin are entrenched as the starters. Josh Smith will likely be the first interior player off the bench, and Cole Aldrich will also get plenty of time on the court.
More than likely, Hayes will battle undersized rookie Branden Dawson and undrafted rookie Yannick Moreira for the team’s last roster spots. Hayes and Moreira are the only two players currently under contract not to hold fully guaranteed deals.
While Hayes’ signing kind of complicates the Clippers interest in Glen Davis and Ryan Hollins, as the Inquisitr previously reported, it is still conceivable that one or both players still ultimately sign with the team — Los Angeles currently has 14 players with guaranteed deals. Both players, like Hayes, bring a defensive presence though neither is the rebounder that Hayes is. Hollins is a shot-blocker who is limited offensively, while Davis is the strongest offensive option of the three though he has his own issues.
Hollins has also drawn interest from the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers. Davis reportedly has also piqued the interest of the Dallas Mavericks as well as teams from China and Europe.
The most likely scenario is that the Clippers will sign Chris Singleton to a non-guaranteed contract.
Clippers also spoke with reps for forward Chris Singleton, per source, but no deal in place.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) August 27, 2015
Singleton can play both small forward and power forward. He is a defense-oriented player who has improved his jumper. The 25-year-old played with the Orlando Magic during summer league competition, averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds to go along with 1.6 steals in five games.
[Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images]
