The Miami Heat announced that they will retain another big part of their roster as Chris Andersen has agreed to a multi-year deal.
The length and financial details of the new deal have yet to be announced but recent deals in Miami have been of the two-year variety. It's possible Andersen's contract will also be of that length as Miami continues to look for flexibility following the 2015-16 season.
"Chris Andersen has had two great seasons with us and without him, we would not have been able to win the 2013 NBA Championship," said Heat President Pat Riley. "I'm happy he decided to come back and we're looking forward to a great season from him in the power rotation."
Andersen was coveted by several contending teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the end "Birdman" elected to stay on-board with the team he has gone to the NBA Finals with the past two seasons. Andersen had opted out of the final year of his contract earlier in the off-season but was always seen as an option to re-sign with the Heat.
While he has not made one start since joining the Heat, Andersen has made a tremendous impact. His passion for the game and his overall talent were big reasons for the recent success Miami has enjoyed. Andersen will likely continue to serve as a reserve with a good deal of playing time. The veteran averaged 19.4 minutes per game in 2013-14 and could even see a slight increase next season.
It has been a busy off-season for the Heat and president Pat Riley but they have done a great job of keeping most of the team together. With LeBron James' exiting, it was critical to keep the rest of the core together in order to stay competitive.
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Andersen joins Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers as players who have agreed to new deals with the Heat. Dwyane Wade is also expected to sign a new contract in the near future.
