Chris Andersen, Miami Heat agree to multiyear deal
After losing the game’s best player, LeBron James, to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Heat have focused on re-signing the rest of the core. They are bringing Chris Bosh back on a five-year deal and appear to be close to re-signing Dwyane Wade (plus they added forward Luol Deng).
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Now, they are bringing back big man Chris Andersen.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Heat and Andersen have agreed to a multiyear deal.
"Free-agent forward Chris “Birdman” Andersen has agreed on a multiyear deal to return to the Miami Heat, a league source told Yahoo Sports on Sunday.Several teams made strong pushes for Andersen – including a late bid by the New York Knicks – but Andersen wanted to return to a roster core and franchise that will move on without LeBron James."
It is interesting that the New York Knicks got involved, but not the least bit surprising. After trading Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks are in dire need of a veteran big man at a reasonable price and Andersen fits that description.
Of course, staying with the Heat is even less of a surprise. After being out of the league, he signed a 10-day contract with the Heat during the 2012-2013 season and wound up being a big part of their second straight Championship. He had another solid season off of the bench last year.
Andersen averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 64.4% from the floor, 25.0% from three and 71.0% from the free throw line. In his 12-year NBA career, Andersen has averaged 5.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 52.9% shooting from the floor, 18.4% shooting from beyond the arc and 65.2% from the charity stripe.