Hayes Out At Least Six More Weeks

Washington Wizards guard Jarvis Hayes said he will be out at least six more weeks with a fractured right kneecap. After that, Hayes will have the knee re-examined and his status for the remainder of the season could be determined.

The third-year guard, who was selected by the Wizards with the 10th pick of the 2003 draft, injured the knee Dec. 16 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He was walking without a limp and appeared to be in good spirits yesterday after the Wizards practiced at MCI Center.

Hayes sought a second opinion after his knee was originally examined by team doctors and has, for the time being, elected not to undergo surgery. Hayes missed the second half of last season and the Wizards' playoff run with a similar injury to the same knee. But last season's injury, according to Hayes, was worse than this one.

"Right now, I can walk around and it doesn't hurt as much," Hayes said. "Last year, I was in a cast and I couldn't move at all. It's not as bad this time. Hopefully, after a few more weeks, we'll have a better idea of how it is."

Hayes was averaging 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds before suffering the injury early in the first quarter against the Lakers. Hayes, who started 13 of the first 21 games, remains the team's fourth-leading scorer behind Gilbert Arenas (28.5 ppg) Antawn Jamison (18) and Caron Butler (15.6), and his absence was one of the reasons Coach Eddie Jordan shuffled his starting lineup and playing rotation before a Dec. 21 victory at Denver.

The Wizards are 3-1 since Butler was inserted as a starter and Jared Jeffries was shifted from forward to Hayes's position, shooting guard.