Two things are true in regards to the Miami Heat. One, they love “reclamation projects” (see Eddy Curry last year). And two, their rebounding issues are past “elephant in the room” status. At 29th in a league of 30 teams, the Heat suck. To hopefully assist in that department, Pat Riley and crew decided to take chance on controversial big man, Chris “Birdman” Andersen, signing him to a 10-day contract. Known for his tattoos and off-court issues, the former Nugget worked out for Miami while the team was on their six game road swing out west. Birdman appeared equal parts excited and appreciative of the defending champs willing to roll the dice on him.
“They’re taking a chance with me and I’m here to give them everything I’ve got, defensively, diving on the floor, blocking shots, you know, the usual that a Birdman does and what Birdman brings.”
All signs point towards Andersen making his Miami debut Wednesday when the Raptors visit South Beach. Of those charges which eventually led to his departure from Denver – a Colorado home invasion apart of an on-going investigation on Internet-crimes related to children – Birdman says he has cooperated fully with law enforcement since day one and he is not the target of the investigation nor have any charges been filed against him.
Here’s to hoping Andersen provides some sort of relief for Miami on the glass. The moment we should all be waiting for though? When he and another well known Birdman take their first picture together. There’s a good chance that remains my Facebook and Twitter profile pictures of the rest of the season if that happens.
Meanwhile, an ugly season for the Cavs became even uglier with the news of Anderson Varejao being officially done for the year after doctors discovered a blood clot in his right lung. “Sideshow Bob,” prior to his right leg injury, was in the midst of a career season settling near the top of the league’s best rebounders and was playing exceptionally well alongside future all-solar system point guard Kyrie Irving.
Varejao is said to remain on blood thinners for the next three months, but is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of the 2013-2014 season. Where does Cleveland go from here? Well…
— Let Kyrie just go stupid for the rest of the season doing whatever the hell he desires. Seriously, whatever the hell he wants.
— Somehow secure a top two pick in the draft. Draft Shabazz Muhammad and place him in the backcourt with Kyrie. If this happens, keep convincing Dion Waiters he could become one of the best sixth men in basketball, especially once his decision making and shot selection improve.
— Continue to develop Tyler Zeller. And maybe, just maybe, enter the 2013-2014 season with a starting lineup of Kyrie, Shabazz, Alonzo Gee, Tristan Thompson/Zeller and Varejao with Waiters and Thompson/Zeller coming off the bench.
Boom, armchair GM’ing at its finest, ladies and gents. Even if those steps are followed to the exact step, this still isn’t to say Cleveland wins a championship in the next year or two. But the Cavs would be fun as hell to watch, and that’s half the battle in remaining relevant in today’s NBA.