Andersen to decide free-agent fate soon

By Brian Windhorst and Jared Zwerling | July 5, 7:32 p.m. ET

Miami Heat free-agent big man Chris Andersen has contract offers from several teams and plans to make a decision about his future early next week, sources told ESPN.com.

The Heat have made bringing Andersen back an offseason priority but are limited somewhat financially because they are facing a $30 million luxury tax bill this upcoming season. The Heat could give Andersen a deal starting at $1.7 million with "Early Bird" rights or sign him with a portion of the taxpayer's mid-level of $3.2 million.

Andersen is still owed $4.8 million by the Denver Nuggets, who released him under the amnesty provision last summer, for next season.

After signing with the Heat in January, Andersen proved to be a valuable bench player on the Heat’s title run. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.1 rebounds off the bench in 42 regular season games and 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a remarkable 81 percent from the field in the postseason.