[Modesto Bee] Hayes into big things

Hayesfan · Aug 12, 2007

Didn't know if you all wanted to read it, but I thought I would share for those that did!

http://www.modbee.com/columnists/agostini/story/40440.html

Events both big and bigger are seeking out Chuck Hayes.

He wishes he could deal with them one at a time, but they're not happening one at a time. They're all good, and life-changing, he understands, yet more difficult and complex. You can't check off this to-do list with a 3-point basket and a couple of assists.

Because Hayes, 24, has become, in order, a father, a millionaire and a businessman.

"I'm thrilled," he said during a weekend stay in Modesto, "and busy."

Wasn't it just yesterday Hayes led the Modesto Christian Crusaders to within a hoop of a state Division I title? Wasn't it just last week he was a small deity at Kentucky? Wasn't it just the other day he signed a 10-day contract, one of those NBA sink-or-swim agreements, with the Houston Rockets?

"I've always been the underdog," he said. "That's perfectly fine with me."

He didn't have to add the following: It's good to be the underdog when you've scored some serious coin.

Hayes capped a tedious and sometimes uncertain summer last week by signing a four-year contract with the Rockets. That is noteworthy by itself for an undersized power forward who averaged only 5.6 points and 6.7 rebounds last season.

He didn't exhale until the Rockets agreed to reportedly pay him a base salary of $1.5 million for three seasons with an option for the fourth. Hayes received the job security he demanded, the payment for an offseason of questions and doubt.

For starters, there was the exit of coach Jeff Van Gundy, whose half-court style seemed to be a good fit for Hayes. Van Gundy's successor is Rick Adelman, the former Sacramento Kings coach whose offense-minded let-it-roll approach invited speculation about Hayes' future.

Adelman's philosophy manifested itself in the Rockets' personnel moves, beginning on draft day when they traded for rookie power forward Carl Landry. Then, about three weeks before Hayes signed his contract, the Rockets traded with the world-champion San Antonio Spurs for 6-foot-9 power forward Luis Scola, a gifted and experienced product of Argentina and, equally important, a talent Adelman coveted. Clearly, the Rockets seek more points from the position where Hayes started 43 games last season.

"It was pretty obvious," Adelman said at the time, "we needed to fill that spot."

Small wonder Hayes was worried.

Yet at the same time, the Rockets said all along they were intent on signing Hayes. Three weeks later, they made good on their word, though the series of events probably whacked years off Hayes' life span.

"From now on, I'll be watching the NBA Draft a lot closer," he said. "When I heard about the first trade (Landry), I thought, 'They're bringing in a young guy. I'll have to go at him to keep my job. I've got no problem with that.' "

The acquisition of Scola, however, struck Hayes like a slam dunk.

"I was thinking, 'Maybe they (the Rockets) want to go in a different direction,' " he said. "I understand it's a business but for a moment I was heartbroken. It was a long process, sometimes discouraging. I wondered for a while if Houston was the right place for me."

Hayes discovered there was no problem in Houston, after all, whether or not he starts. See, Hayes' identity in the NBA already is etched in stone. He overcomes his physical mismatches and offense shortcomings by being a little smarter and by, well, knowing the game and making his teammates better. Like his collegiate coach Tubby Smith always said, "All Chuck does is win."

"It makes me feel appreciated that I'm not going unnoticed," Hayes said. "It's a stereotype that's been put on me. I take pride in that label."

Yes, life is full-court pressing Hayes. He used his weekend in Modesto to visit friends and get his newly expanded financial house in order. He's also agreed to appear at the Modesto Basketball Reunion Dinner, a celebration of Slam-N-Jam's 20-year anniversary along with state titles over the years by Modesto High and the Crusaders, Sept. 22 at Modesto Christian.

But before all contracts, appearances and all things hoops is Hayes' baby son, who stops his father colder than a Shaquille O'Neal screen.

"Changes everything," Hayes said. "What a numbing experience, to see fresh life looking at you and knowing it's part of you. I've never had a feeling like that. It's a different world."

For Hayes, a bigger and better world.
Click to expand...

Rookie34 · Aug 12, 2007

Thanks for the nice post, Hayesfan!

Carl Herrera · Aug 12, 2007

Chuck is humble and works hard, no wonder they call him the "Modest Bee" in his home town.

Elvislives · Aug 12, 2007

Good find. I enjoyed it.

Man · Aug 12, 2007

Thanks for sharing.
1.5 mil for 3 years is fair.
Hayes is definitely one of my favorite players, I hope he plays well this season.

KALIKULI · Aug 12, 2007

Humble is the word, alright! The underdog that got us into a lot of great play lastseason, remember the Tmac to Chuck!

awo86 · Aug 12, 2007

Hayesfan said:

$1.5 million for three seasons
Click to expand...

He's definitely the 'most bang for the buck' player for the rockets on the coming 3 seasons. Man I am most glad about this singing that the rockets did, even over the Scola trade because scola's unproven is not the perfect fit alongside Yao Ming(hes a good fit for Adelman's system, but not alongside Yao....plz dun argue that). We basically locked up a good rotation player for cheap in our window of opportunity for championship contention.

brantonli24 · Aug 12, 2007

I just love Chuckie, he's one of those guys who don't have god-given talent like Darius Miles, Tim Thomas etc, who all have underperformed hugely, but hustles and outsmarts his way to a starter role last season, and now he's reaping his reward by earning what most people dream of in a year, and for 4 years no less. Now he needs to move to somewhere like the Bahamas a tax haven, then after 4 years he's going to have a neat pile of 6 million.

ooliverb1 · Aug 12, 2007

Was there any chance at all that if Landry really shattered the world in the summer league, then Rockets might not sign Chuck?

Plowman · Aug 12, 2007

I think 1 and a half million a year is a steal for what Chuck brings to this team.

His contract and skillset make it easy to
facllitate a deal getting done too if desired.

ColdspringX · Aug 12, 2007

Hayesfan said:

Didn't know if you all wanted to read it, but I thought I would share for those that did!

http://www.modbee.com/columnists/agostini/story/40440.html
Click to expand...

Chuck got what he wants, now he needs to hit the gym practise them jumpers. If Deke can his a 10 foot jumper every now and then, there is no reason for any other human bings can not.

cavevato · Aug 12, 2007

Chuck is my HERO!!!!If I wasnt a guy..........

he would still be my HERO!!!!Glad to have Chuck back

Dave_78 · Aug 12, 2007

Carl Herrera said:

Chuck is humble and works hard, no wonder they call him the "Modest Bee" in his home town.
Click to expand...

LOL...what?

JusBleezy · Aug 12, 2007

Great article. Great signing for a great price.

ReD_1 · Aug 12, 2007

Yeah Chuck is fine guy.He brings something to the table.He's hard worker and I think good fit in this team.Just gotta see how he fits in Rick's system

Rocket River · Aug 12, 2007

Every Great Rockets Team Needs a CHUCK!

Chuckie Brown
Chuck Barkley
now
Chuck Hayes

Rocket River
not to mention . . Chuck Norris

supafrumpy · Aug 12, 2007

Carl Herrera said:

Chuck is humble and works hard, no wonder they call him the "Modest Bee" in his home town.
Click to expand...

modesto is a city, and the bee is the name of the paper.

SonKhan · Aug 12, 2007

Undersized and a liability. I appreciate his work ethic but he will be with another team before the saeson starts. He is a great throw in. Easy to dump his contract.

shipwreck · Aug 12, 2007

Hayes shall now be known as the modest bee. Hard worker and hates smoke.

Tom Bombadillo · Aug 12, 2007

So um, has Chuck worked on that jumpshot this offseason?

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