Zalgiris Kaunas has reached an agreement with one of the top EuroCup rim protectors Kevarrius Hayes, sources told BasketNews.
A 25-year-old center will pair with Laurynas Birutis at the center position.
Greens are on the market for a power forward who could also play some center minutes.
2.06 American-Central African big man is coming off a spectacular season with Frutti Extra Bursaspor.
The Turkish club reached the EuroCup finals, and Hayes contributed with 9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
In the regular-season game against Ulm, he scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and made six blocks (37 PIR).
Six blocks were the season-high in the entire competition. He was only two blocks shy of the all-time EuroCup record.
He was solid in the decisive EuroCup games.
Hayes posted 11 points, 16 rebounds, and 27 PIR in the semifinals against MoraBanc Andorra.
In the title game vs. Virtus Bologna, he scored 11 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, blocked 2 shots, and had 20 PIR.
Hayes was third in blocks and seventh in total rebounds per game.
In the Turkish league, where Bursaspor were eliminated in the quarterfinals, Hayes averaged 9,7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks.
A powerful big man already had EuroLeague experience.
In the 2020-21 season, he averaged 3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks for ASVEL Villeurbanne.
He started his pro career in 2019 in Italy. He averaged 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks for Cantu.
 | Zalgiris Kaunas | |
| Position | Player | Status |
| PG | Mantas Kalnietis | Signed until 2023 |
| PG | Lukas Lekavicius | Signed until 2025 |
| SG | Karolis Lukosiunas | Signed until 2023 |
| SG | Tomas Dimsa | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| SF/PF | Edgaras Ulanovas | Signed until 2024 |
| PF | Tyler Cavanaugh | Signed until 2023 +1 |
| C | Joffrey Lauvergne | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| C | Josh Nebo | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| C | Marek Blazevic | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| C | Laurynas Birutis (story) | Signed until 2024 |
| Coach | Kazys Maksvytis (story) | |
| Expired contract | Tai Webster (won't come back), Janis Strelnieks (won't come back), Niels Giffey (won't come back), Arturas Milaknis, Paulius Jankunas (retiring), Regimantas Miniotas | |
| Rumored to leave | Joffrey Lauvergne, Josh Nebo (story), Paulius Jankunas (retiring), Arturas Milaknis, Regimantas Miniotas, Marek Blazevic (won't come back) | |
| Interested | Kevarrius Hayes, Arnas Butkevicius (story), Chris Jones (story), Kyle Allman, Caleb Homesley, Darius Thompson (story) | |
