Like Andrea Bargnani, former Raptors forward Alan Anderson is leaving Toronto for New York City.
The newly signed Net, Anderson, was a teammates of Bargnani’s for two seasons and called him “an amazing player’’ who needed to get out of Canada.
“He needed a change,’’ Anderson said on a conference call Wednesday. “He’s an amazing player. He’s not a show-a-lot-of-emotion type player. He shows his emotion through his game. A change of scenery is always good for some guys, especially when they haven’t taken the team to where the fans and media think they should win.
“He has a little weight off his shoulders, going to the Knicks with Melo, J.R. Smith, Amar’e (Stoudemire). Those are guys who can really help you, and (make) him blossom more.’’
Anderson, a smooth-shooting forward who averaged 10 points per game for Toronto last season, could be a perfect depth piece for the souped-up Nets and he believes they should dethrone the Knicks as Atlantic Division champions, even with Bargnani.
“No question, we have the talent for sure,’’ Anderson said. “It comes down to guys putting the pieces together. We have a team full of superstars and a lot of Hall of Famers. (It’s) similar when that Boston team got together and put the stardom to the side. Instead of three stars, they made one big star. We have a lot of veteran leadership. That’s a big plus for us. We got guys who are vocal and want to win.‘’
Anderson accepted the Nets’ veteran minimum contract after they acquired Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, who along with Ray Allen, formed the Big 3 in Boston that Anderson referenced.
“I had other offers for teams offering more money,’’ Anderson said. “It wasn’t the right fit for me. I’m not getting younger. I want to win. I’m a winner. They showed so much interest in me. I felt most comfortable being here.’’
Anderson is also friendly with Garnett after winning the MVP at Garnett’s basketball camp as a youth.