The Toronto Raptors announced yesterday that they had traded for Aussie big man David Andersen, giving up a 2015 second round draft pick and cash considerations to the Houston Rockets. Essentially the Rockets were moving Andersen out of a logjam up front, with indications being that he was unlikely to get minutes in the Rockets’ system, particularly given the lack of time afforded to him in the second half of last season.
In Toronto, Andersen comes into a relatively good situation. He should be able to get good rotation minutes at the 4/5 spots, working into a big man lineup that includes Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson, Reggie Evans and rookies Soloman Alabi and Dwayne Jones. (Side note: it’s terrible that I now automatically start typing “Dwayne” as “Dwyane”… thanks D-Wade’s parents).
The Raptors’ squad has seen the departure of star PF/C Chris Bosh (Miami Heat) and Hedo Turkoglu (Phoenix Suns) with no real additions up front, apart from the rookies and Andersen. Thus there should be minutes for the Aussie to pick up if he earns them.
“David is a skilled big that gives us some insurance at the backup centre position,” said Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo. “He will also bring a veteran presence and savvy to a relatively young team.”
The acquisition of Andersen fits with the Raptors’ ambition to form the United Nations in Toronto. He joins a team that is loaded with international talent from across the world and that brought in a Brazilian and a Lithuanian this off-season as well.
His contract runs through this coming season (at $2,500,000) with an unguaranteed season in 2011/12 should he be waived by 15 August 2011 (per Sham Sports). He is not the first Aussie to wear a Raptors uniform, with Nathan Jawai previously having a stint in Canada.
In other news, Andersen scored the winning basket for Australia in the Stankovic Cup overnight, off a pass from Patty Mills in the final 10 seconds of the game against China. More on that match elsewhere at A Stern Warning.
