on december 9, 2011, hayes signed a four-year, $21.3 million contract with the sacramento kings. however, the kings voided the contract on december 19 after his physical exam showed a heart abnormality in an echo test, and the team conducted additional testing. hayes then went to the cleveland clinic for extensive tests on his heart, and issued a statement on december 22 that cardiologists at the hospital had cleared him to play.