due to a rash of injuries on the houston roster, hayes was signed to a 10-day contract on january 18, 2006. in his second game in a rockets uniform, hayes posted a double-double, collecting 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 109–108 double-overtime win over the chicago bulls on january 20. on january 28, the rockets announced they were signing hayes for the rest of the season. hayes earned a total of $231,390 for the season between the 10-day contract and the contract for the remainder of the year. he was later joined by former kentucky teammate keith bogans, who was traded by the charlotte bobcats for lonny baxter on february 9. the departure of baxter created room in the depth chart for hayes. hayes was also temporarily joined by another kentucky teammate, gerald fitch, who was traded to the rockets on february 23 but was assigned to the d-league on march 7, 2006.