The Sacramento Kings issued the following statement:
"The Sacramento Kings tonight have reached an agreement in principle with free agent center/forward Chuck Hayes to a multi-year contract, according to Kings' President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed."
The deal is for four years and worth $22.4 million. Hayes' original deal with the Kings was worth $21.3 million over four years.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic cleared Hayes to return to playing basketball Thursday, three days after Kings voided Hayes' contract because of a heart abnormality that showed up on his physical.
The Kings upped their offer to Hayes to make sure he wouldn't be swayed to sign elsewhere.
The Kings maintained contact with Hayes as he sought a second opinion.
"I've always tried to and all the people I work with have always tried to put people's humanity first," Petrie said Thursday afternoon. "I think we've been supportive of Chuck all the way along."
Front office staff went with Hayes to his tests after the abnormality was discovered. Petrie drove Hayes to the hospital for one of his tests.
Hayes is scheduled back in Sacramento Friday night. Hayes went is at his home in Houston tonight.
"It's been an incredible week of emotional highs and lows," Hayes said in a statement. "The Kings have been very supportive during this process and I feel very comfortable with the relationships that I have started there. After reviewing my options, the Kings were still the choice for me. I want to thank all the people that prayed for me and offered support during this difficult time, and I look forward to being an integral part of the Kings organization for many years to come."
Hayes' agent, Calvin Andrews, was contacted by Minnesota, Memphis, Toronto, Houston and San Antonio about Hayes.
"I want to make it clear there were never any bad feelings between Chuck and the Kings," Andrews said in a statement. "We understood the process and their medical staff had to take the necessary precautions when it came to seeing any abnormalities of the heart. We are thrilled that this was resolved so quickly, and really appreciate the opportunity that the Kings staff and the Maloof family have given Chuck."
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