MKRob Sports

Chris “Birdman” Andersen and the Denver Nuggets have agreed on a five-year deal, his agent said, The Denver Post reported. 

Andersen, who provided shot-blocking, rebounding and energy off the bench for the Nuggets in their run to the Western Conference finals, could make as much as $26 million from the deal, his agent, Mark Bryant, told the newspaper. Andersen could sign the contract as early as Wednesday, when the NBA’s free agent signing period begins.

Andersen will earn $3.7 million next season from the contract, which is back-loaded and sweetened with performance incentives, Bryant said, according to the report.

While Andersen was sought by a number of NBA teams as an unrestricted free agent, he wanted to stay in Denver, Bryant said, according to the report.

“We’re ecstatic to stay in the community,” Bryant said, the newspaper reported.

Andersen averaged 6.4 points, a career-high 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in 2008-09, his first full season back in the league after returning from a two-year drug suspension in March 2008.