HOUSTON – Houston Rockets General Manager Carroll Dawson announced today that the team has signed forward Chuck Hayes for the remainder of the season. He was signed to a 10-day contract on Jan. 18 while playing with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League.

Hayes (6-6, Kentucky) is averaging 8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in six games with the Rockets. He has also posted 46 rebounds (9.2 rpg) over his last five games. In just his second NBA game, Hayes registered the first double-double of his career with 12 points and a team-high 13 rebounds at Chicago (1/20). Hayes then recorded a team-high 12 rebounds at Milwaukee (1/23), and matched his career high with 12 points vs. Minnesota (1/27). He first signed with Houston as a rookie free agent on Oct. 3 before being waived prior to the regular season on Oct. 25. Hayes was then selected sixth overall in the 2005 NBA D-League Draft by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. In 14 games (13 starts) with Albuquerque, Hayes averaged 11.6 points and a league-leading 12.2 rebounds per game.

Houston’s second 10-day contract for guard John Lucas, III has expired. Lucas, who signed with the Rockets from the D-League Tulsa 66ers, averaged 2.3 points and 0.9 assists in 13 games with the Houston. The Rockets roster now stands at 15 players.