Chuck

Hayes

He was released from the hospital after precautionary tests showed no injuries and was shocked when he sat next to a water cooler in the dugout. He has sleeper potential this year in fantasy hoops, especially if the Rockets suffer any injuries to their big men.

When Dikembe Mutombo and Yao Ming went down with injuries, he was a valuable frontcourt option at times. The undrafted rookie averaged 3.7 PPG and 4.5 RPG in 40 games this past season.

Hickson was spotted on crutches after Thursday’s game and the injury won’t help the Kings’ efforts to trade their underperforming PF. Jason Thompson and Chuck Hayes will step into larger roles in Hickson’s absence.

Credit the NBA for ignoring Cousins’ reputation and examining the facts surrounding the weak tech he got on Sunday. He’ll start and projects to play a full complement of minutes as a strong fantasy option. Over the last 12 games, Cousins is averaging 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Chuck Hayes will stay in a bench role.

As long as DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson, who both struggled tonight, are healthy, Hayes has no fantasy value.

Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins have done a good job of limiting Hayes, who doesn’t offer much fantasy value as long as they’re healthy.

Thompson got whacked in the head on Friday, but that wasn’t an issue in this one. He started and somehow got just two shots up in 27 minutes. Chuck Hayes (two points, seven rebounds, six assists) came off the bench with significantly more energy.

Cousins’ absence may or may not have had anything to do with the inappropriate text message allegations. We’d expect a full complement of minutes Friday, thus sending Chuck Hayes back into a reserve role.

Cousins should be back for the next one, so we don’t see a reason to own Hayes at this point.

Hayes serves as the Kings’ primary backup big man, and in his absence they’ll need more out of Hassan Whiteside (and more importantly, for DeMarcus Cousins to avoid trouble).