Report: Cavs Working on Signing Center Chris Andersen

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Cavaliers are “working on” signing center Chris Andersen.

According to a team source, the Cavs are "working on" signing Chris "Birdman" Andersen, as Ty Lue alluded to on @NBATV

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 8, 2016

Cavaliers Head Coach Tyronn Lue first indicated the team would sign Andersen during an interview with Cavs play-by-play man Fred McLeod on Friday.

The 38-year-old, who earned the nickname “Birdman,” last played with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2015-2016, but enjoyed some of the best days of his career as LeBron James’ teammate in Miami from 2012-2015, winning two championships.

Anderson’s best statistical season came in 2008-2009 with the Denver Nuggets, where he blocked 2.5 shots per game. Coincidentally, he had J.R. Smith as a teammate in Denver.

Most recently, Anderson played 18 minutes per game with the Grizzlies in the second half of the 2015-2016 campaign, averaging 4.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

If the Cavs want to include Anderson as the backup center option to Tristan Thompson, they would have to make a roster move and it would make sense for Sasha Kaun to be the odd man out rather than carry three centers on the roster.

LeBron mentioned in March of 2016, that the team didn’t have an “enforcer” type player and Anderson would fit the bill for that.

For a move of this magnitude, involving a solid role player off the bench, it’s reasonable to suspect LeBron would have some input in wanting to bring an old teammate to reunite with him and James Jones.

We’ll keep you posted on if any official deal is made.