Despite speculations in Lithuania about Kevarrius Hayes' future, he has decided to remain with Zalgiris Kaunas for the 2024-25 season.
Kevarrius Hayes is set to remain with Zalgiris Kaunas for the 2024-25 season, according to BasketNews sources.
Hayes, a 27-year-old 2.06-meter tall American-Central African big man, had a player option to extend his stay with Zalgiris Kaunas after the 2023-24 season.
With the opt-out deadline passing in mid-June, he has decided to continue wearing the green-and-white jersey for another season.
In his second season with Zalgiris, Hayes has been averaging 5.6 points (56.4% 2FG), 4.0 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, and a Performance Index Rating (PIR) of 7.4 in less than 19 minutes per EuroLeague game.
During Zalgiris' late playoff push, Hayes had a 5-game streak averaging 11.2 points (82.1% 2FG), 7 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and a PIR of 18.2 per game.
Hayes made his first EuroLeague three-pointers, including a crucial shot to tie the game against Real Madrid in crunch time.
In the 2023-24 season, he achieved career highs in points (17 vs. Baskonia), PIR (26 vs. Virtus), and tied for the second-best mark in blocks with four against Crvena Zvezda.
Hayes had the second-highest plus/minus rating in Zalgiris behind Keenan Evans and boasted the best defensive rating on his team. Zalgiris' defensive rating improved by 12.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court (per BBallytics).
In the Lithuanian league, Hayes averaged 6.2 points (60.3% FG), 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.
His last-second offensive rebound and putback in Game 2 of the semifinal series against Lietkabelis secured a crucial win for Zalgiris, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series, which they ultimately closed out in three games.
 Zalgiris Kaunas | Zalgiris Kaunas | |
| Position | Player | Status |
| PG | Tyrone Wallace (story) | Signed until 2025 |
| PG | Lukas Lekavicius | Signed until 2025 |
| PG | Sylvain Francisco (story) | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| SG | Dovydas Giedraitis | Signed until 2025 +2 |
| SG | Tomas Dimsa | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| SG/SF | Deividas Sirvydis (story) | Signed until 2026 +1 |
| SF | Edgaras Ulanovas | Signed until 2027 |
| SF | Arnas Butkevicius | Signed until 2025 |
| SF/PF | Matt Mitchell (story) | Signed until 2025+1 |
| PF | Brady Manek | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| PF/C | Alen Smailagic (story) | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| PF/C | Danielius Lavrinovicius | Signed until 2024 +1 |
| C | Laurynas Birutis | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| C | Kevarrius Hayes | Signed until 2024+1 |
| Coach | Andrea Trinchieri (signed until 2026) | |
| Expired contract | Keenan Evans (will not return), Karolis Lukosiunas (will not return), Demetre Rivers (will not return), Edmond Sumner (will not return) | |
| Rumored to leave | Rolands Smits (will not return), Danielius Lavrinovicius | |
| Interested | Ignas Brazdeikis | |
More Zalgiris transfer news:
- Sylvain Francisco moves from Bayern to Zalgiris
- Tyrone Wallace nearing agreement with Zalgiris
- Alen Smailagic officially signs for Zalgiris
- Zalgiris tab forward Matt Mitchell on 1+1 deal
- Three players leave Zalgiris Kaunas
- Deividas Sirvydis joins Zalgiris
- Rolands Smits pens 2-year deal with Anadolu Efes
- Matt Mitchell close to signing with Zalgiris
- Sylvain Francisco nearing deal with Zalgiris
