Chuck Hayes: Clean Bill of Health Paves Way For Return to Sacramento Kings

Chuck Hayes has been on quite the emotional roller coaster over the past few days.

Last week he signed a four-year, $21.3 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, marking his first big pay day as a professional athlete.

The excitement was quickly tempered when the Kings medical staff detected an abnormality in his heart, and the team decided to void the contract.

Blindsided by the news, Hayes spent 11 hours at the Cleveland Clinic undergoing tests to figure out what was wrong. His NBA career was in jeopardy.

The doctors informed Hayes Thursday morning that he doesn’t have a heart problem and can continue to play in the NBA.

Needless to say, he was thrilled when speaking to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports:

"

I’m ecstatic inside. It’s a big relief. I have no worries at all. I have a healthy heart. My heart’s fine. The doctors just say it’s too big. It’s too big means I have a big heart. I’m a big guy. That’s all it is.

"

The Kings didn’t waste much time bringing back Hayes, and he even got a better deal, too, according to Spears:

Earlier Thursday it wasn’t clear if Hayes wanted to go back to Sacramento. He’d also drawn interest from Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs.

In the end I think Hayes didn’t take the voided contract as an insult, but more of a reminder that your health is more important than any amount of money.

Now that Hayes is healthy and assuming he passes the physical this time around, the Kings have themselves a 28-year-old that is coming off his best statistical season in every major category. He averaged 7.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 28 minutes a night for the Rockets in 2010-2011.

He is the perfect defensive compliment to the high-powered offense on the Kings and should thrive in his home state.

Here is one sad NBA story that comes with a happy ending.