The Miami Heat, in desperate need to have someone grab more than four rebounds a game (seriously, the Heat are currently ranked 29th in rebounds, which is just straight-up ass), worked out Chris "Birdman" Andersen two weeks ago and apparently liked what they saw enough to sign him to a ten-day contract over the weekend.
The enigmatic Andersen showed up to Heat shoot-around on Sunday sporting a stars and stripes headband and a Mohawk. Also, he's still very much still tatted up from head to toe.
He also spoke about himself in the third person.
When asked about having his left knee scoped and whether it will be a problem for him, Andersen responded: "That ain't gonna keep the Birdman from flyin' and getting in there and getting some rebounds and bangin' and playin' hard."
"I'm here to give them everything I've got... You know, the usual that a Birdman does and what Birdman brings."
Andersen, who has averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, hasn't played since last March. But the acquisition is low-risk, high reward for a team desperately in need of a high-energy-crash-the-boards-at-all-costs kind of a player.
"Typically, you're not able to get a player of his caliber at this time of year," Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But three years ago, he was the best in the game coming off the bench at his position, as a shotblocker and a rebounder. We've always liked him. We had him in our camp a long time ago, when he was just coming up in this league, pre-tattoo, and we liked him back then. Ever since then, we've searched for ways to get him back."
"This opportunity and being with the defending champs, it's a dream come true," Andersen said.
LeBron James, for one, is happy to have the Birdman onboard.
"We love guys with chips who feel like they've got something to prove for a lot of teams not giving them an opportunity," LeBron said. "Hopefully he plays with that type of intensity."
For his part, Dwyane Wade made a bad joke. "He wears his personality on his sleeve."
The 34-year-old Andersen now has ten days to prove he can still play at a high level and that he can bring what the Heat need. Namely, a rebounder. If he can still be en effective shotblocker, that would be a nice bonus.
Andersen had been working out at the team's facilities while the Heat was on its road trip.
The Birdman is expected to make his debut on Wednesday, when the Heat host the Toronto Raptors.
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