Andersen reinstated from drug suspension

The NBA reinstated forward Chris Andersen from a drug suspension Tuesday, and the New Orleans Hornets will have the first chance to sign their former player.

Andersen was banned on Jan. 27, 2006, for violating the league’s drug policy. Since he was “dismissed and disqualified” for a specific violation, he was forced to wait two years to apply for reinstatement.

Andersen’s rights belong to the Hornets, provided they offer him a contract in the next 30 days, which they are expected to do. If not, Andersen would become an unrestricted free agent.

Andersen, 29, averaged 5.0 points for New Orleans in the 2005-06 season, his fifth in the NBA, before becoming the first player thrown out for drugs since Stanley Roberts in 1999.

Point guard Sam Cassell, 38, passed his physical but won’t be available for the Boston Celtics until Friday against Chicago because of a death in his family. He was waived by the Clippers last week after a contract buyout.

The Dallas Mavericks signed free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue, 30, waived Friday by Sacramento after a contract buyout. Lue acquired by Sacramento from Atlanta in February, has averaged 6.8 points and 1.8 assists this season

The Detroit Pistons signed center Theo Ratliff, 34, who returned to the team he started his career with in 1995. Ratliff, averaging 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots this season, was waived by Minnesota on Friday. . . . The Phoenix Suns signed guard Gordan Giricek, 30, who was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers after a contract buyout. Giricek, traded from Utah to Philadelphia in December, was averaging 3.9 points. . . . Chris Webber could miss the final three games of the Golden State Warriors’ three-game trip because of a sore left knee.