HoopsHype.com Rumors

Chris Tomasson: Chris Andersen was asked the last time he smiled. “I don’t remember,’’ he said. Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Joseph Goodman: THE BIRDMAN on his pregame handshake with Mike Miller: "It's a club. You can't join unless it's blood in and then blood out." Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Chris Andersen 

Joseph Goodman: MIKE MILLER on secret handshake with THE BIRDMAN: "It's Rated 'R,' so that'd be a bad story, bro." Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Chris Andersen 

LeBron says “pretty cool’’ that Chris “Birdman’’ Andersen has unique personality and people want to look like him: “I think he’s character of his own,’’ James said. “Anytime you can have people off the floor that want to look like you, want to dress like you, want to get your haircut like you, that means you have a great personality and you have your own swag about yourself. I think it’s pretty cool.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Chris Andersen 

Chris Andersen said he told Joakim Noah that the reason he was signed was to counter him. Andersen told that to Noah in the hallway at the United Center on March 27, the night Noah’s Bulls snapped the 27-game winning streak of Andersen’s Heat. “He’s a big threat. I’ve always been going against him,’’ said Andersen, who was signed in January and has guarded Noah since Noah entered the NBA in 2007-08. “You got to match his energy and style of play.’ Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Joakim Noah 

Andersen recognized the bravery in Collins’ decision, saying “he’s going to have a tough road, but you know what, I think he’s in the right part of a state of mind that he’s going to be … a tough leader.” Collins, who finished this season with the Wizards, is a free agent with an average of 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds for his career. A physical, seven-foot center, he has played for six teams throughout his 12-year career. The journeyman could find himself out of the NBA next season, but commissioner David Stern said if that happens it would not be because of his announcement. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, David Stern, Chris Andersen, Jason Collins 

That’s why the Miami Heat center on Tuesday spoke of a parallel about his situation and center Jason Collins having revealed in a Sports Illustrated article he is gay. “It’s tough,’’ Andersen said of being viewed as different. “But having tough shoulders and a tough mind to carry that load takes a very, very special person. Being in my situation, I just overpowered all the thoughts and all the criticisms that I got from fans and non-fans. So he’s probably going to go through a lot criticism, but he’s getting a lot of praise as well. And he’s definitely got my back. “I’ve been criticized and burned, so to be back in the limelight of things it was tough to first get my foot in the door and get in front of the cameras (after signing with the Heat in January). But for him to come out and say this is how he feels and this is who he is, I commend him on that …. I got my supporters just like he has his supporters. So I know he’s going to have a tough road. But I think he’s on the right part of state of mind that he’s going to be in, and he’s going to be a tough leader.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Jason Collins 

Fans can flap their arms and make bird calls all they want at AmericanAirlines Arena. But don’t try to make a buck off an illegal Birdman T-shirt. With Birdman mania surrounding the Miami Heat center, Chris Andersen's camp is attempting to register his nickname in some form with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. “I need to trademark it,’’ said Andersen, who has ignited the Heat with his energy off the bench and fired up fans since he was signed last January as a free agent. “It’s what I need to do. … We’re trying to.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

But before anybody thinks Andersen is trying to profit from his fame, think again. Mark Bryant, Andersen’s attorney and agent, said that hardly is the case. “Everything he makes goes to charity,’’ Bryant said from his Denver office about money made off marketing Andersen. “He’s heavily involved with children. We’re going to launch the Freebird Foundation to help underprivileged children. … Anybody who is selling an illegal Birdman T-shirt on the Internet is stealing from charity.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Mark Bryant, agent for Chris "Birdman'' Andersen, said his client wants to re-sign with the #Heat this summer. “We’re certainly hopeful,’’ Bryant told FOX Sports Florida about Andersen re-signing with the Heat. “But he’s going to finish this task first (of trying to win a title with Miami). But, absolutely, he has embraced (being with the Heat).’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Chris Andersen 

But the Heat looked at the big picture, how another energy-and-effort guy with size and strength would clearly help their chances of winning a second straight title. With that in mind, they offered him a deal, Andersen accepted, and he's made the Heat look like geniuses for the move ever since. "He's perfect. Perfect," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "When you see his production, you get it. When you look at everything that Birdman is, what people say he is and even what he is to a certain extent, it doesn't match. But when you look at how he plays and the production on the court and what we need, it's a perfect fit." Oklahoman

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Chris Andersen 

Spoelstra still remembers Andersen's free-agent workout in Miami — nearly 12 years ago, long before the tattoos and the Mohawk and the banishment from the league for violations of its substance-abuse policy. Andersen impressed the Heat mightily that day with his energy, and Spoelstra said he worked so hard, the team was concerned that he would make himself ill. There are no concerns anymore. "We didn't necessarily need another guy to keep it light. We have quite a few of those guys in our locker room," Spoelstra said. "I think the key point with Chris is he's able to fit into a complex locker room. You have to have a personality. You have to have a confidence around you. It's not the easiest locker room to step into. You'd be torn apart if you don't have the right personality." Oklahoman

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Tom Haberstroh: Chris Andersen corrected a reporter about how he flaps his arms out on the court. "Flap. I flap once, not two flaps." Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

What are his thoughts on returning? “I haven’t given it much thought yet,” Andersen said. “My main concern is these games to finish out the regular season, get ready for the playoffs, and then go from there.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

But this seamlessly? “You’re the one looking in,” Andersen said, smiling. “I’m not the one to boast. You know the numbers.” Here there are: in games that Andersen has played, Miami was 36-3 entering Sunday’s matchup with Chicago. “You know, the organization allows me to be the player that I am,” Andersen said. “That kind of leeway, there’s a large area of confidence for me to have….. It just inspired me to get back in the gym, and work even harder and work even more and keep pushing myself to be better.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: LeBron on Birdman: “Ain’t nobody messing with Bird. There’s two guys you’re not allowed to mess with. That’s him and UD (Udonis Haslem)’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Chris Andersen 

Did Chris Andersen believe, when he signed with the Heat, that everything would work this well? “I didn’t know what to make of it,” Andersen said. “I just come in, take care of business. Taking care of business is what Birdman does.” But this seamlessly? “You’re the one looking in,” Andersen said, smiling. “I’m not the one to boast. You know the numbers.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

To hear LeBron James tell it, Chris Andersen converting his first 3-pointer in more than four years hardly was a shock Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena against the Milwaukee Bucks. James said he's seen it in practice from Birdman, when Ray Allen, James Jones, Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers are testing their 3-point range on game days. "They start shootaround out with knockout," James said of the drill when you attempt to make a shot before the person in line in front of you converts. "Ray, J.J., Shane, Rio and Bird. Bird has been in the finals before, I don't know if he has ever won one before, but he has been in the final with all those great shooters." Andersen's conversion at the shot-clock buzzer lifted him to 3 of 25 from beyond the arc over his career. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, James Jones, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, Shane Battier 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Ray Allen on Chris Andersen's 3: "I wasn't surprised. We work on it." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: Chris "Birdman'' Andersen to Sun Sports: "We don't step outside our boundaries unless I take dumb shots.'' Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen