Former Rockets power forward and fan favorite Chuck Hayes has returned to the team as pro player personnel scout.

Hayes, who held a similar position with the Denver Nuggets last season, will continue to evaluate NBA and other players for the Rockets, with some work in player development, Rockets vice president Gersson Rosas said.

"We value him not only as a player but his profile and his background is extremely valuable to what we do on the personnel side," Rosas said. "He's a guy who has a different perspective. He's been in the league for 10 years, understands the game. He's a guy that has known for a long time he wanted to do something in the league after his (playing) career was over and prepared accordingly. We see a guy with a lot of talent, a lot of character and a lot of upside in terms of his role in the front office."

Hayes played seven seasons with the Rockets (including two games filling in when the Rockets were shorthanded in 2015-16) as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky.

An outstanding defensive player and briefly the shortest starting center in NBA history at 6-6, he averaged 3.7 points and five rebounds in his career with three teams.

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, he tied Alex Groza for the Kentucky record for consecutive starts (110) and is in the top 10 at Kentucky in rebounds, steals and blocked shots.

Photo: Brian Bahr/Getty Images

"He'll still do some player development with us, as the schedule allows," Rosas said. "Long term he wants to coach. We have a philosophy. A number of the most successful coaches in the league have experience in personnel. When he decides to coach, he'll be better prepared. Being in the D-League, having to make it in the NBA, he'll be very good."