http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/ article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3044101,00.html Nuggets' Birdman takes flight to New Orleans By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News July 17, 2004 LAS VEGAS - The Birdman has flown the coop. Chris Andersen, who excited fans with high-flying antics during three seasons with the Denver Nuggets, agreed to terms Friday with the New Orleans Hornets. On Monday, the forward will sign a two-year, $3.36 million deal and be introduced at a news conference. Andersen was a restricted free agent. However, the Nuggets, wanting to clear money to sign a swingman and realizing Andersen would play little due to Thursday's acquisition of Kenyon Martin, renounced him Friday, making him unrestricted. "His agent (Marc Fleisher) called me," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "He said it would be really tough with the addition of Kenyon Martin. (Andersen) would not get playing time . . . I like Chris Andersen. I understand he thought it was the best situation for him. I couldn't disagree his playing time would be diminished." Andersen's deal next season is for the $1.6 million exception. His second season is a player's option. Andersen, who could not be reached for comment, averaged 3.4 points and 4.2 rebounds last season. His three-season averages were 4.0 points and 4.2 rebounds. "He's going to miss Denver, but this is a great opportunity," said Steven Heumann, who works with Fleisher. CARVING OUT CAP ROOM: The Nuggets have about $2.3 million of cap room left after reaching a deal to pay Martin $92.5 million over seven years and renouncing Andersen. The Nuggets still could carve out nearly $3 million. But Vandeweghe said the team has no plans by Wednesday's deadline to buy out center Francisco Elson's $620,046 contract for $50,000. The Nuggets got $750,000 extra room by shifting numbers in the deal center Marcus Camby signed Friday, giving Camby a cap number of $8.5 million. They got about $1.3 million extra with Martin signing a seven-year contract, rather than a six-year, $82.3 million deal, which would have been the case had Martin signed an offer sheet, rather than New Jersey agreeing to sign-and-trade. Martin's cap number next season is $9.7 million. His base salary is $9.45 million. For cap-number purposes, his $1.5 million signing bonus is prorated over his six years, since he has a player option for his seventh year. The Nuggets entered the summer with more than $20 million of cap room for a second consecutive off-season. But Vandeweghe expects next summer Denver will need to use salary-cap exceptions to sign free agents. SWINGMAN SOUGHT: With their remaining cap room, the Nuggets are seeking a reserve at small forward and shooting guard. Vandeweghe said Minnesota restricted free agent Trenton Hassell heads the list. However, he admits it may be tough to get Hassell with the team's remaining cap room. "We'll sure try," said Vandeweghe, who wouldn't rule out a sign-and-trade. "He'd be great." If Hassell doesn't work out, Vandeweghe said Jon Barry, who played for Denver last season, is "definitely a possibility." A Barry representative, Bob Myers, said he's considering Atlanta, Detroit, Seattle and the Los Angeles Clippers in addition to the Nuggets. Vandeweghe also remains interested in re-signing Rodney White. But he said agent Dan Fegan hasn't been returning calls lately. ISSEL ON BOARD: Warren LeGarie, agent for former Nuggets coach and star player Dan Issel, confirmed Friday that Issel will be play a role next February at the All-Star Game in Denver. Issel has kept out of the public eye since resigning as the team's coach following an ethnic slur he made to a fan in December 2001. "Yes, he's kept a low profile," LeGarie said. "But he'll always be a Nugget." Vandeweghe has been seeking to get Issel involved with the team again. LaGarie said Issel was set to attend Game 6 of a first-round playoff series at the Pepsi Center in April, but Minnesota ended the series in five games. "I'll talk with Kiki at the Rocky Mountain Revue (the summer league in Salt Lake City, where Denver begins play today) and we'll talk about what Dan will do," said LeGarie, who put together the Reebok Vegas Summer League, where the Nuggets concluded play Friday with an 85-75 win against Cleveland. "But he's coming (to All-Star Weekend)." COOP'S CONTRACT: Many league observers are surprised the Nuggets gave assistant Michael Cooper a three-year contract while head man Jeff Bzdelik has just one year left on his deal. But Vandeweghe says not to read anything into it. "I had to get him away from the (WNBA's Los Angeles) Sparks," Vandeweghe said of that team's former head coach. "Anybody that good has options and isn't going to come on a one-year deal. You're not going to get him to leave a great situation." Asked about Cooper having two more years on his deal than him, Bzdelik said, "That doesn't bother me." ETC.: Friday's win left the Nuggets with a 1-2 record in Las Vegas. Forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili scored 24 points, raising his average to 25.7. "I enjoyed my playing," he said. Elson grabbed 17 rebounds . . . A day after acquiring Martin, the Nuggets had 150 season-ticket deposits put down. "They're dangerous contenders now," ESPN analyst and former NBA coach George Karl said. [email protected] or 303-892-5125 --

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