David

Andersen

He’ll likely be picked up by another team, but shouldn’t be worth owning.

Andersen had stated that he wanted to return to the NBA, but he’ll remain overseas where he’ll likely get a bigger contract that he could garner stateside at this point in his career.

Andersen has spent some time playing in Italy since we last saw him in the NBA. “My agent is working pretty hard on some things right now, and hei s just going to keep talking to some teams to see if something pops up,” he said. That doesn’t make it sound like there is very much interest in his services, and Andersen acknowledged that if he can’t return to the NBA, he’ll take his game back to Europe.

Andersen last played in the NBA in 2011 for the (then) New Orleans Hornets and would be coincidentally taking current New Orleans Pelican Alexis Ajinca’s spot on SIG Strasbourg’s roster. Outside of fantasy leagues that incorporate European league stats, Andersen’s impending signing is fantasy non-news.

Andersen, a 6-11 big man, was drafted in the second round by the Hawks in 2002, but has spent all of his pro career in Australia and Europe. Obviously, we don’t see this trade having any fantasy impacts.

Andersen just finished buying out his contract with his Spanish team, FC Barcelona, clearing the way for him to come to the NBA. The 6'11", 245 lb. center will undoubtedly get some run with Yao Ming sidelined, but exactly how much run he gets is up for debate. He is a sharp-shooting big man, more in the mold of Mehmet Okur than Shaquille O’Neal, and should hit his fair share of threes this year.

The deal is for two years and $4.8 million with a team option for a third year at $2.7 million. Andersen figures to get a fair shot at Yao Ming’s minutes, along with Carl Landry, Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes. Depending on how training camp plays out, Andersen could be a nice late-round sleeper.

The Rockets acquired his rights in a trade with Atlanta on July 14, and he’s expected to get plenty of minutes at center with Yao Ming likely out for the season.

That will include Luis Scola, David Andersen, Chuck Hayes, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Joey Dorsey and Brian Cook. Scola obviously is the guy with all the promise here, but you have to think someone else will step up. Andersen’s a good shooter, but not really a true NBA center.

Andersen is 7'0" but weighs just 235 lbs, relying mostly on length defensively. It’s unknown how his game will translate to the NBA, though as Houston’s only active player taller than 6'9" he should at least get plenty of minutes.