despite earning mvp honors at the portsmouth pre-draft camp, hayes was not selected in the 2005 nba draft but was signed by the houston rockets prior to the 2005–06 season. hayes played in several preseason games before being cut. hayes was then selected sixth in the 2005 nba development league draft by the albuquerque thunderbirds. hayes led the nba d-league in rebounding with 12.2 a game in his tenure with the thunderbirds.