The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking for a backup big man after the team's center Chris "Birdman" Andersen tore his right ACL in practice Friday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Andersen, who joined the defending champs on a one-year deal after Timofey Mozgov left for the Lakers, suffered a noncontact injury, will need a season-ending surgery. After undergoing evaluation at the facility, an MRI administered at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health by team physician Dr. Richard Parker confirmed the tear.
Andersen is the Cavaliers' third-string center, specifically when their opponents have bigger lineups, since backup center Channing Frye is undersized in some games. With him out, the team are down to just 13 healthy players and three additional big men: Frye, Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love.
According to ESPN, the injury presents another problem for the Cavs, who have sought for ways to trade Mo Williams to clear his salary off the books. Williams had knee surgery before the season and did not report to camp, but he is still on the team's roster. The Cavaliers, who have the league's highest payroll, will have the same problem with Andersen, who signed as a free agent this summer and has a guaranteed contract. Cutting Andersen from the roster spot would cost the team around $4 million in luxury taxes alone, and a new player could potentially add another $4 million in salary and tax.
Fox Sports said that among the free agents available to take his place: Kendrick Perkins, who played for the Cavs in 2015 and gave them similar stats as they went to the Finals, and Brendan Haywood, who also was a member of that same Cavs team but played even less and didn't see any action in the playoffs. The 38-year-old Andersen, was averaging 2.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 9.5 minutes in 12 games. Meanwhile, here is a video of Andersen talking about his new and current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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