Chuck Hayes has been cleared by doctors to play in the NBA this season.

In a statement released by Hayes’ agent Calvin Andrews, the power forward/center said that he is “happy to say I have a healthy heart and have been cleared to play immediately.”  He tweeted the following message to his Twitter followers this morning.

Multiple reports indicate that Hayes prefers to re-sign with the Sacramento Kings.  However, Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports adds Hayes may revisit other options, including Houston, San Antonio or Minnesota.

According to reports, Hayes is likely announce his decision after Christmas.

The Kings signed the Modesto native to a four-year contract, worth an estimated $21-million, before nullifying the deal after Hayes failed his physical.

According to the Sacramento Bee’s Aileen Voisin, it is a case of pericarditis that caused the Sacramento Kings to void the 4yr/$21.4 million contract of Chuck Hayes.  We have way too little confirmation or information to fully explain the Hayes situation, but needless to say, any heart condition is serious and needs the appropriate privacy.

For the webMD’s out there, pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart).  Although pericarditis can be deadly if left untreated, it is also curable.

Before Tuesday nights pre-season match-up against the Golden State Warriors, Coach Paul Westphal spoke briefly on the Chuck Hayes situation.  Although Hayes is no longer a King, Westphal was more than willing to give Chuck Hayes a second look if his health issues are resolved, “Absolutely. He made a big impression on people in the short time he was here.”

According to Westphal, the Kings are still looking to add some front court depth.  Today, they struck out with former King Samuel Dalembert, after he chose to sign a two year deal with the Houston Rockets.  With the free agency cupboard almost bare, the Kings are going to have to be creative with how they add this final piece to the puzzle.

The Kings are approximately $2 million dollars under the NBA’s minimum salary threshold of $46.4 million and nearly $14 million under the $58 million salary cap.

The Sacramento Kings have voided the contract of veteran forward Chuck Hayes.   Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie released  the following statement:

“This morning, in one of the most heartbreaking moments of my professional or personal life, Chuck Hayes was notified that he failed his physical exam with the Sacramento Kings. Subsequent to that, the contract signed on December 9th has been voided. At Chuck’s request, we will have no further comment at this time.”

It is believed the Kings forward is suffering from some sort of unknown heart condition.  The Kings performed further tests last week on the Modesto native, revealing an abnormality.

The news comes on the heels of the Boston Celtics nullifying the contract of forward Jeff Green, who too was discovered to have a some sort of serious heart condition.  Green will miss the entire 2011-12 NBA season.

The Sacramento Kings have just sent out an official press release regarding newly acquired power forward/center Chuck Hayes:

CHUCK HAYES INJURY REPORT

SACRAMENTO, CA —- A recent stress echo test performed on Kings’ center/forward Chuck Hayes revealed an abnormality which will require further testing this evening and tomorrow. An update will be provided as more information becomes available.

Needless to say, this is shocking news.  Hayes was at media day earlier and was in great spirits.  The Kings are counting on Hayes to solidify the middle of their defense this season.  The former Houston Rocket signed a 4 year/$21 million deal last week with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent and by all accounts, Hayes has had a huge impact on the floor as a defensive leader throughout camp.

As soon as we hear more from the Kings medical staff, we will update you.

DeMarcus Cousins sprained his right ankle at practice today.  Now you can add Tyreke Evans to the injury report, too.  The Kings guard sprained his left foot according to Kings media relations manager Devin Blankenship.

Evans suffered with plantar fasciitis in that same left foot through most of last year.  Cowbell Kingdom will be at Kings media day tomorrow and will bring you updates on both Cousins and Evans’ injuries.

According to Devin Blankenship of the Kings media relations team:

Cousins was nursing a sore left shoulder yesterday after practice as well.  With an abbreviated training camp and pre-season schedule, any missed time will be a setback.  We will update you as news rolls in.

The Sacramento Kings have just sent out an official press release regarding power forward Jason Thompson:

JASON THOMPSON SUFFERS BONE FRACTURE IN RIGHT TOE

SACRAMENTO, CA —- X-rays taken yesterday at the UC Davis Sports Medicine Clinic revealed that Sacramento Kings’ forward Jason Thompson has a non-displaced sesamoid bone fracture in his right great toe. He will wear a walking boot for approximately four to six weeks, at which time Thompson will be re-evaluated.

Thompson is known as a workout warrior in the off-season.  With a long summer in front of him, it is unlikely that this injury will have any impact on next season at all.  It is unknown how the injury occurred but Thompson flew back to Sacramento earlier in the week, presumably to have the foot looked at.

According to an official press release from the Sacramento Kings, second year guard Tyreke Evans has been cleared to return to practice.

SACRAMENTO, CA, March 16, 2011 — After undergoing three shockwave treatments for plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Sacramento Kings’ guard Tyreke Evans visited foot specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel yesterday and was cleared to begin basketball activities. If all goes well, Evans should gradually return to action within a week or two.

Evans will miss his 15th straight game tonight as his teammates take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Power Balance Pavilion.

We have been on this story for the last few days.  You can find more in-depth coverage here and here and I think it goes without saying that Coach Westphal is smiling big at the possibility of seeing both Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton in the same backcourt at some point this season.

According to Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal, Tyreke Evans is having his ailing left foot re-inspected by Dr. Richard Ferkel today in Los Angeles.  If all goes well, Evans will lose the boot and start the process of getting back into game shape.

“He says he is feeling good.  Assuming he gets the clearance tomorrow, then he will be able to start working out.  The smart money is that a week or ten days, he’ll be playing a game.”

Westphal continued, saying that it is still too early to put a time table on Evans return until the doctors have chimed in, but that a week to ten days “is the hope that that’s what we hear and that’s reasonable to expect we could hear that.”  Tyreke has been in a walking boot since a series of three shock wave treatments began to help relieve his re0ccuring case of plantar fasciitis.

A lot has happened during his 14 game absence, including the addition of a possible long term back-court mate in Marcus Thornton.  Thornton scored a career high 42 points Monday night against the Golden State Warriors, and has averaged an impressive 22 points a game in his first ten contests as a King.  Coach Westphal was not willing to commit to a starting line-up when Evans finally returns, but he did say that he will use whatever remaining games to mix and match his three potential starting guards, possibly even trying all three on the court at the same time.

As news rolls in throughout the day, we will try and update Tyreke’s status going forward.

Kings just announced that Hassan Whiteside underwent successful knee surgery:

SACRAMENTO, CA —- Sacramento Kings’ center Hassan Whiteside underwent successful surgery this morning at the UC Davis Medical Center to repair a partially torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Dr. Richard Marder performed the surgery. Whiteside will miss four to six months of action and should be available by the start of the Kings’ 2011-12 Training Camp.

So Hassan Whiteside’s rookie campaign has ended with two minutes of play and two personal fouls.

It’s good to know the surgery was successful, but I have to wonder if the added muscle over such a short period of time was just too much for Hassan’s body frame to properly handle. According to him on Media Day, he put on 25 lbs of muscle during the summer. He looked jacked before the season started. But maybe it was way too much and a bad decision.

It’s not the same situation but you look at Greg Oden getting much bigger after his first knee surgery, putting on a lot of muscle and now his career is basically being eulogized before it really started. Now, Hassan has to come back from a big knee surgery. Hopefully, he tries to get lighter and smarter with his body so he can avoid season-ending surgeries like this.