MIAMI — Chris Andersen became the bird who flew away for the Knicks.
In mid-January, the Knicks were exploring big-man options because of fears Rasheed Wallace’s foot injury would not heal.
They contacted Andersen’s agent, as the so-called “Birdman’’ was good friends with J.R. Smith, had played with Carmelo Anthony and was once signed by then-Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien, now a Knicks executive.
But the Knicks never made an offer. Andersen wound up a stud for Miami in late January and the Knicks wound up with Anderson’s former Nuggets teammate, Kenyon Martin, who had a solid stint, but didn’t play well in their Eastern Conference semifinals exit against Indiana.
Andersen has been the perfect piece to the Miami puzzle, a roster that lacked an active big off the bench.
“There were a number of teams who contacted us, but I was ready to write off the season in January,’’ Andersen told The Post.
Asked about the Knicks, Andersen just smiled. He said he still is in contact with Smith, with whom he played in New Orleans and Denver. They share an affinity for tattoos. Andersen’s bird tattoo on his neck is his signature.
“He’s pretty inked up,’’ Andersen said. “We’d be jealous of each other when the other got a tattoo. We’re all trying to get time in the chair.
“Congratulations to him for getting the Sixth Man, but he’s been a great player since I started playing with him in New Orleans. He’s sacrificed a lot to get the Sixth Man Award.’’
Martin didn’t turn out to be a bad choice for the Knicks, but Andersen, who carried in a lot of baggage and was amnestied by Denver last summer, has been super.
“K-Mart’s a helluva defender,’’ Andersen said. “He’s still got a lot left in his tank. I’m a little surprised he lasted that long in free agency. But it allowed him to play as hard as he does all the way to the end.’’
Andersen will be a free agent this summer and the Heat may have to dip into its $3.1 million mid-level exception to re-sign him. They may not, so the Knicks would have another crack at him. Asked if he would consider the Knicks, Andersen said, “I’m not even thinking about the summer.’’
***
* San Antonio’s Tracy McGrady, signed in April after playing against Stephon Marbury in China this season, feels the league is better off if college kids are mandated to stay two years.
“The league is so young — I hate to say it but talent in the league is pretty down,’’ said McGrady, who never has played a playoff game. His Chinese stint was great.
“I’m one of the most popular guys over there,’’ said McGrady, a former Yao Ming teammate. “Every time I go, thousands of people are waiting for me at the airport. It makes me feel like a rock star.’’