The Sacramento Kings appear ready to add Chuck Hayes to their roster - again.

Hayes, whose contract was voided this week after an echocardiogram stress test revealed an abnormality, was told by specialists at the Cleveland Clinic this morning that he has no heart problems and it is the recommendation of the renowned clinic that he resume his professional basketball career.

"I'm just very thankful and blessed with the team of doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and the power of prayer," said Hayes in a statement. "I am happy to say I have a healthy heart and have been cleared to play immediately. I look forward to getting back on the court as soon as possible."

Hayes had undergone tests at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday that reportedly included CT scans, an MRI, EKG and another echo stress test.

Steven Nissen, head of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, led the team that evaluated Hayes. He said doctors in Sacramento were right to send the six-year veteran to Ohio for further testing, but emphasized that Hayes is completely fit to play.

"There was legitimate concern. It was appropriate that he be sent to us," Nissen said. "We did what was as exhaustive an evaluation as we could have done, and we concluded that he was fine to play."

Hayes does have an unusual structure to his heart, Nissen said. He has a little bit of what doctors call "outpouching," or a bulge in the wall, in his left ventricle.

But while that's out of the ordinary, the doctor underlined, it's not dangerous.

"We don't think he has a heart disease that is going to limit him, and we recommend that he be allowed to play basketball at a professional level," Nissen said. "I told him I encouraged him to play and that I was as going to watch him on TV. If we had felt he was at risk, we would have told him that."

Hayes had failed the Kings' physical after signing a four-year, $21.3 million contract as a free agent center. The team voided the contract Monday.

Because Hayes' contract was voided he is again a free agent. Minnesota, San Antonio and Houston were teams interested in Hayes before he signed with the Kings.

Hayes, however, is expected to be in town Friday and players have been told he's re-signing with the team.

"Really, all I know is he's had great medical news," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "He's scheduled to come back to Sacramento tomorrow and we're just so overwhelmingly happy the second opinions are so positive. Primarily (happy for) what happened for Chuck. We're also happy for his family and ourselves."

Hayes was emerging as a leader for the Kings and having played basketball for nearby Modesto Christian, saw playing for Sacramento as a homecoming.

While it appears Hayes will re-sign with Sacramento, his agent, Calvin Andrews, will only say the Kings have a "leg up" on signing his client.

Hayes reportedly holds no ill feeling toward the Kings.

"I'm not angry with Sac," Hayes told Yahoo! Sports. "I feel like I owe it to them. They found something. They raised the concern. They pretty much helped me by sending me out here (to Cleveland). They took my contract away, but they pretty much helped me by sending me out here."

For more on this story, read Friday's Sports Section.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.