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well, somebody will be gone
Monroe's article has been updated.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...n_Ratliff.html
Spurs sign veteran Theo Ratliff
By Mike Monroe - Express-News
The Spurs have gotten younger and more athletic this summer, but their latest addition proves they still value veteran players who can defend, even as their athleticism has begun to wane.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford confirmed Thursday that Theo Ratliff, a 36-year-old center who averaged 3.6 blocks per game in 2003-04, has agreed to terms of a contract for the 2009-10 season.
“Theo has always been a very good defender and shot-blocker,” Buford said. “Looking to next season, we thought that shot-blocking and rim protection was an important piece we needed to fill.”
Ratliff last season played 46 games with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 1.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 12.6 minutes per game, all of his time coming from the bench.
Terms of the contract haven't been disclosed, but it is believed to be a one-year deal for the veteran minimum — $1.3065 million for a player with Ratliff's tenure. Such a deal allows the Spurs to be reimbursed for the amount exceeding the minimum salary for a player with two years of experience, $825,497. Only the two-year veteran minimum will count against the team's total payroll for salary cap and luxury tax purposes, an important factor with the Spurs' payroll already exceeding the new luxury tax threshold, $69.9 million.
The addition of Ratliff gives the Spurs 13 players under contract, seven of them big men: Tim Duncan, Matt Bonner, Ian Mahinmi, recently signed free agents Antonio McDyess, Marcus Haislip and Ratliff; and second-round draft pick DeJuan Blair.
The Spurs regard both Bonner and Haislip as perimeter power forwards, big men with 3-point range capable of stretching defenses. Haislip may even play some at the small forward position.
The six perimeter players under contract are small forwards Michael Finley and Richard Jefferson, point guards George Hill and Tony Parker, and shooting guards Manu Ginobili and Roger Mason Jr.
In all likelihood, Ratliff's signing rules out the return of former Spurs Fabricio Oberto and Bruce Bowen, traded in the three-team deal that brought Jefferson to San Antonio. Oberto was waived by the Pistons after his new, partially guaranteed contract went into effect on July 1. Several NBA sources have said the Bucks are offering Bowen, and his half-guaranteed contract, in trade talks.
“The goal right now is to build as productive a team as we can this year, but also try to search out some athleticism for the future,” Buford said.
Ratliff is a true center whose primary skills have been interior defense and rebounding. Next year will be his 15th NBA season.
Injury-prone his entire career, he has played more than 60 games in a season only five times. He's played only 74 games over the past three seasons because of injuries.
Early in his career Ratliff was regarded as one of the NBA's rising stars among centers, but injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential. While a member of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2000-01, he was voted to the Eastern Conference starting lineup for the 2001 All-Star Game. A wrist injury prevented him from playing, and he was traded to Atlanta at the February trade deadline, shortly after that All-Star Game, in exchange for Dikembe Mutombo, who helped the 76ers reach the 2001 Finals.
The Spurs will be Ratliff's seventh NBA team. Drafted 18th overall by the Pistons out of Wyoming in 1995, he played two-plus seasons in Detroit before a trade sent him to the 76ers in 1998. Injuries limited him to 50 and 57 games his first full two seasons in Philadelphia, and he was traded after the wrist injury in 2001.
His best NBA seasons came in 2002-03, when he averaged 3.2 blocks in 81 games for the Hawks, and in 2003-04, when he played 85 games, 53 for the Hawks and 32 for the Portland Trail Blazers. He blocked 307 shots, an average of 3.6 per game, that season.
well, somebody will be gone
Sidebar from Monroe.
Theo Ratliff
Position: Center-forward
Size: 6-10, 235 pounds
NBA highlights:
* Drafted 18th in the 1995 draft out of Wyoming by the Detroit Pistons.
*As a memberof the Philadelphia 76ers, voted the starting Eastern Conference center in the 2001 All-Star Game; missed the game with a wrist injury and was traded to Atlanta before team's run to the NBA Finals.
*Suffered ankle, wrist, knee and hip injuries over career.
*7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.5 bpg in 14-year NBA career, during which he's played for six teams before Spurs.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...n_Ratliff.html
I think the "Bruise Brothers" have returned. Maybe its time to start cranking out the t-shirts.
Why is there not more discussion of former all-star Theo Ratliff???
Theo Ratliff
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...ratlith01.html
Well, that meants Gist isn't making the team.
From the look of it, he could stand another year developing his game overseas. He'll make some scrilla and come over to the NBA hungry.
yeah, gist needs another year abroad. he is still a tweener between the 4 and 3 spot.
Spurs FO, "Lemme lemme upgrade ya".
I wonder if Bonner is on the move.. 7 big men is quite a bit.
Nah, we're going anti-league trend, "big-ball" style.
Pop's projected "Big-ball" starting line-up:
1- Gist
2- Blair
3- Bonner
4- Duncan
5- McDyess
okay, here it goes. in spot duty he has averaged 1 block every 12 min over the last 3 years and has averaged 1 block every 10 min 35 sec for his career.Why is there not more discussion of former all-star Theo Ratliff???
Theo Ratliff
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...ratlith01.html
His rebounding is 1 rpg every 4 and 3/4 min vs every 4 and 20 sec for his career. Bottom line he is going to probably average 1 block per game in about 11 mpg. and 2-3 rpg. Which would make him 2nd on last year's team in blocks. He will come in very handy against opposing guards who attack the basket in half court sets.
Solid veteran signing.
McDyess replaces KT.
Ratliff replaces Oberto.
So long Gist.
Bonner + Finley for a vet perimeter defender. Raja Bell maybe?
i like the way you think.
It worked with Robinson and Willis in 2003
And Jerome Kersey in '99.It worked with Robinson and Willis in 2003
I'm happy with this move and hope Theo has some productive spot minutes left in him.
Ratliff adds defence and grit and is essentially veteran injury insurance. Great move, roster all set but for a defensive wing.
FO gets an A+ already, staring at perfect score depending on what they do with Finley/Bonner and that missing wing.
He has to decide what position he wants to play and dedicate himself to that goal. He needs an honest evaluation of his natural abilities, BB skills and potential for improvement to find the answer. Presently, his skills seem to favor PF and its the position that seems natural and comfortableto him. If he's feeling pressured to make the transition to SF because thats the current need on the Spurs (at least before all the recent acquisitions) then he may want to reconsider this strategy. I'd say be the best player that you can be.. if your skills and abilities dictate that you will thrive as a PF, be the best 4 that you can be. If the Spurs don't have an opening for you, then some other team will. Good luck JG.
Here is another Ratliff tidbit. He has been traded for Mutombo, Sheed, and Garnett (all or in part) at one time or another.
I'm guessing, as many are, that Ratliff is going to be veteran insurance in case some of the younger guys don't pan out.
If that's the case, than it's a pretty good signing.
I know 76 posts don't count for much but I agree here with debestpro, think retro........ I feel like it's '99 all over again and have said so before.
The grim reapers color's that year were silver and black.
...........and Horry in '05.It worked with Robinson and Willis in 2003
Perhaps Haislip can be that mythical missing wing I keep hearing about?
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