In its exploration to sign a big man, the Miami Heat will work out ex-Denver Nuggets center Chris Andersen, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Andersen, famously known as "The Birdman," arrived in Miami on Monday for a physical and workouts over the next two days with the defending NBA champions, sources said.

Heat president Pat Riley has been scouring the landscape to bolster a foundering frontcourt bench and appears to be intrigued with the possibility of discovering how much Andersen, 34, has left in his game.

The Heat released center Josh Harrellson on Monday and now have two open roster spots.

[Related: Cavs' Omri Casspi asks for trade, sources say ]

At his best, Andersen, who is 6-foot-10, was one of the NBA's most active and relentless bench contributors. His array of tattoos – covering him head to toe – helped make him one of the league's most popular characters.





Andersen played 32 games for the Nuggets last season, and ultimately was waived in July using the NBA's amnesty clause. He's played parts of 10 seasons with Denver, New Orleans/Oklahoma City.

After a two-year ban for violating the NBA's drug policies between 2006 and 2008, Andersen had a terrific second act in the NBA, most notably as a key reserve on the Carmelo Anthony-led Nuggets.

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