The Nuggets cut Chris “Birdman” Andersen and signed in his place free agent Anthony Randolph, a source said Tuesday. The team used the NBA’s amnesty clause to waive Andersen, a source said.

Randolph, a power forward and center, averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 34 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. He made five starts. Over four NBA seasons, including stops with the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, he has averaged 17.6 minutes, 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Each team is allowed to use its amnesty clause once during this new collective bargaining agreement. The team still has to pay the player the money on the contract — Andersen is due to make around $4.5 million next season and $4.8 million in 2013-14 — but it doesn’t affect the team’s overall salary cap.

The move makes sense for Denver because the 33-year-old Andersen didn’t play much last season and the Nuggets have numerous younger big men on the roster. Last season, Andersen appeared in only 32 games, averaging 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 15.2 minutes.

It also is a sad end to the tenure of a fan favorite in Denver. At his peak, back in 2008-09, Andersen was a key fixture on the team that advanced to the Western Conference finals, swatting shots and soaring for dunks, while numerous fans wore his jersey or even sported Birdman-like mohawk hairdos.

Andersen remains the subject of a police matter that has yet to be resolved. In May, Douglas County authorities seized property, including electronics, from Andersen’s Larkspur home as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children unit’s ongoing investigation.

But an attorney for Andersen had told The Denver Post that his client was threatened with retaliation by a woman who represented herself as being of legal age, and he was asked to give her money and lingerie.

A statement released in May by Denver attorney Colin Bresee offered a glimpse of a flirtatious relationship that developed between Andersen and a young woman from California. Documents reviewed by The Denver Post confirmed that she repeatedly represented herself to be of legal age and that her family later demanded payment from Andersen.