[Fox] Andersen Arrives in Houston to Sign Contract

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David Andersen


Andersen Arrives in Houston to Sign Contract

Updated: Monday, 20 Jul 2009, 9:20 PM CDT
Published : Monday, 20 Jul 2009, 9:20 PM CDT

MARK BERMAN

HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets newest acquisition center David Andersen from Australia, arrived in Houston Monday to take his physical and sign his Rockets contract.

The Rockets acquired the rights to Andersen, who played last year with FC Barcelona in Spain, in a trade last week with the Atlanta Hawks. Houston must still sign him to a contract, which is imminent.

"It's a done deal," said Kenny Grant, Andersen's agent, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "We have an agreement on a three-year deal.

"Part of the agreement with Barcelona was he could only leave if he had a guaranteed offer that was for more than one year. So we've satisfied the conditions with Barcelona."

Grant confirmed the third year of Andersen's contract with the Rockets is a team option. He also pointed out the process of transferring Andersen's rights from FC Barcelona to the Rockets involves several steps.

"David notified Barcelona last week that he was terminating his contract to play in the NBA," said Grant who is with Andersen here in Houston. "Now there is a certain procedure he has to follow. Beside notifying them of the termination he has to supply them with proof of a guaranteed offer from an NBA team which Houston is taking care of right now. I believe it will be there by Wednedsay, it has to be there. And then there's supplying them also with a contract that has been approved by the league and then the payment of the buyout fee."

Grant did not offer specific details of the Rockets contract, but NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports it's a two-year deal worth $4.8 million with a team option for a third year at $2.7 million.

League sources also told FOX 26 the Rockets contributed $500,000 to the buyout Andersen had to give FC Barcelona which is the maximum allowed by NBA rules.

"Basically I just arrived in the afternoon and I just went and did some medical exams, met the doctors and stuff," Andersen said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

"It's great. It's an exciting time. Obviously joining a new team is always exciting."

With All-Star center Yao Ming out indefinitely after choosing to undergo surgery on his broken left foot, Andersen will be the Rockets man in the middle.

"It's probably impossible to replace a guy like that," Andersen said. "Obviously it does open a window for me. So I've got to try and make good from that and try and help the team to win as much as possible."

Andersen was a key for the FC Barcelona team that won the Spanish National Championship last year and earned a berth in the Euroleague Final Four.

He has also been a star on two other teams that won three European League Championships.

Last season with FC Barcelona Andersen averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds a game.

Andersen was originally chosen by the Hawks in the second round (37th overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft.

Rockets officials have not been available for comment.

 

This is true as long as Anderson doesn't walk around with a murse (a male purse)!