CHRIS ANDERSEN Height: 6-foot-10 Weight: 228 pounds Age: 27 years old Stats: 7.7 points on 53.4% shooting, 6.1 boards, 1.49 blocks in 21.3 minutes Status: Unrestricted Free Agent

Andersen is an example of hard work paying off. The 6-foot-10 forward covered in tatoos played ball at Blinn Junior College, but bounced around several leagues for a couple of years before being called as the #1 pick of the 2001 NBDL draft by the Fayetteville Patriots. He was the first ever NBDL player to get called up to the NBA when the Nuggets scooped him up, and he made a big splash at the 2002 Rocky Mountain Revue, being selected MVP of the tournament.

The player that Darryl Dawkins once dubbed the "White Kite" was a super sub for the Nuggets in 2003-2004, blocking 1.61 shots and grabbing 4.2 boards in just 14.5 minutes, leaving many to wonder what kind of dirty work numbers he could put up with substantial playing time. He got more time in New Orleans, grabbing 6.1 boards to go with 1.49 blocks in just 21.3 minutes while hitting over 53% of his shots.

Andersen has opted out of the second season of a 2-year, $3.4 million contract, becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Hornets are expected to make a push to keep him.

Rocket Perspective
If Ryan Bowen is version 1.0 of this type of player, Andersen is version 6.0. He plays very hard, contests every shot and works the glass -- all features the Rockets desperately crave out of the power forward position. He would make for an excellent contrast to a Juwan Howard. Given how he has utilized Bowen, there is little doubt that Jeff Van Gundy would love to have a player that size with that kind of tenaciousness. He is a little too hyped up at times, trying to do too much, but fits the mold of a JVG free agent.

Andersen is also from Texas, played at Blinn and despite academic problems, he had verbally committed to Clyde Drexler and the Houston Cougars in 1998, even though he was heavily recruited by USC, Arizona and others. At the time he said it was because he "just decided to stay home". He also played a couple of seasons in China, so he goes a little farther back with Yao Ming than most.

Conclusion
There is a real opportunity here, and it wouldn't surprise me if both parties had interest in the other. Some think he will give you similar numbers to a Stromile Swift, if not more due to the effort, and can be had for a lot cheaper. Andersen is looking for a good raise above the $1.74 million he was due this coming season and Byron Scott and the Hornets have said they want him back. The Nets, as they are with all free agent power forwards, will compete for his services as well.

Houston has a geographical advantage and could hold the edge given they are a playoff team on the rise, but as is the case with most free agents, it will likely come down to money -- especially given that New Orleans isn't too far away from his southern comfort zone.

The question for the Rockets becomes: Is Andersen a legitimate starting power forward on the rise, creating an opportunity to buy low now, or is he maxed out at as a bench player deluxe, giving a team a strong 15-20 minutes a night?