discuss. Or maybe not, may be bs.....I may get my first swat.

http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?p=227447

I called it first.

I saw Ratliff play against the Spurs a coupe weeks ago. He looks healthy as I've seen him since his atlanta days.

He still blocks shots and finishes plays pretty well.

I'm glad to have him on our roster. He's a much better fit than Dale.

Oh, its at the Det news now. breaking shit fuckers.

Great find K-stat.

http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/pistonsblog/index.cfm?CFID=14323613&CFTOKEN=39050966


PIstons to get Ratliff

Well, looks like Joe Dumars has done it again. He waited patiently to see if another big man might become available, and one did. A familiar one.

The Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night placed veteran center Theo Ratliff on waivers and have agreed to buy him out of what remained on his $11.6 million contract. If he clears waivers in the next 48 hours - which is almost a given with his salary - he will sign with the Pistons for the prorated amount of the veteran's minimum ($1.3 million).

Ratliff, 34, was drafted by the Pistons in 1995. He has only played 12 games the last two years, but he is healthy now. He played in the last 10 games with the Timberwolves, averaging 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Ratliff will provide a solid, veteran presence as the fifth big man. Again, he's not likely to take up Jason Maxiell or Amir Johnson's minutes, but if either Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess were to get injured, Ratliff would be a very capable short-term fill-in.

In other news, Sam Cassell got his buyout and he will land in Boston. Former Piston Flip Murray is headed to the Clippers.

Sweet. Hope Amir still gets his.

Sweet. Hope Amir still gets his.


Again, he's not likely to take up Jason Maxiell or Amir Johnson's minutes

Doesn't mean shit with Flip.

Barring injury, it'll be 4 guys (Afflalo, Ratliff, Dixon, and Herrmann) fighting for two regular playoff roster spots.

My money is on Afflalo and Ratliff.

My hope is on Afflalo and Ratliff.

I like this pick up, much better than Dale Davis, Big Theo come's back home...

Barring injury, it'll be 4 guys (Afflalo, Ratliff, Dixon, and Herrmann) fighting for two regular playoff roster spots.

My money is on Afflalo and Ratliff.


I agree, I think Herrmann will definitely be out considering he's technically a big man at 6'9", we really have no use for him (which is a shame b/c he would get serious minutes on about 80% of other teams), and also I think Dixon will get the shaft mainly b/c he's a new addition, and is far behind (chemistry wise)...

Samb get's shafted as well, to nobody's surprise...

How tall is Theo...I'm to lazy to look it up?

I agree, I think Herrmann will definitely be out considering he's technically a big man at 6'9", we really have no use for him (which is a shame b/c he would get serious minutes on about 80% of other teams), and also I think Dixon will get the shaft mainly b/c he's a new addition, and is far behind (chemistry wise)...

Samb get's shafted as well, to nobody's surprise...
affalo could get the official shaft along with stuckey. sounds odd, but dont rule it out. I think Herrmann would be a mistake to leave off. but its the pistons call.

How tall is Theo...I'm to lazy to look it up?
6ft 10in...being too lazy to type a name into google? thats pretty extreme..lol

Oh and a Amir/Theo frontline is pretty cold in the shot blocking.

Who remembers the Samb/Amir block fest at the Staples Center... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxLXmKSukCE

i still remember the day we traded theo ratliff. i cried, and i cried. now hes finally back.

uhhhh, good move i guess. kstat likes him, and hese been on a roll lately, so i am all for this move.

Very good pick-up, much better than Dale Davis. Ratliff fills a very big need for this team, a legit center that can defend the rim (assuming he's healthy and can contribute). If Flip can figure out how to use him (big if) it's a coup for the pistons.

I also agree with codeman that it would be a big mistake to leave hermann off the playoff roster. I wish he'd be given a chance to compete in the regular rotation and think his size and pseudo-ability to defend taller 3's (and his offensive skills will make them work on the defensive end) in this league could prove beneficial in the ECF.

With that being said I think the team chooses to leave stuckey on the roster and hunter off. There's no need for a lock-down defending point guard when facing eastern conference opponents since there really isn't a good point guard in the ECF other than billups (although that could change if we face the bulls or hawks in the first round, we may need hunter against ben gordon or Bibby).

Very good move for the pistons.

i would be shocked if stuckey was off...

chaunce
rip
tay
d
sheed
max
stuck

those 7 without thought.

amir-ye
theo-probably
dixon-meh
hunter-guh
afflalo-fjl
valter-fdjf;
hayes-jf3

actually togher than i thought. we can only have 12 right?

my guess is sorry to aaran, valter. i guess cheik samb too. and sheldon, wherever he is.

Just realized something.

http://www.nba.com/news/rulechanges_060802.html


Increase in Playoff Roster Size:
# Playoff roster size will be expanded from 13 to 15 players, with each team designating 12 active players and up to three inactive players prior to each game.

“Our owners are intent on making the playoff seeding more fair for all teams going forward and in quickening the pace of the end of games,” said Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. “The Board also thought it made sense to allow teams to utilize the same 15-man roster in the playoffs that they use during the regular season.”

The rules changes were recommended by the Rules and Competition Committee at its annual meeting in June, and approved this week by a vote of the Board of Governors.

Everyone will be available. But My guess is the 3 inactive will stay that way unless we are exposed in a really bad mismatch. Flip doesnt mix it up much.

vgHHa-g81Qk

I like this a lot if Theo is fairly healthy.

Theo is everything that I hope Samb will become (minus the injuries).

Time to dig up the old jersey.

Jer...jer...jersey?

:emo kid:

Does anybody think Terry Mills would take the vet's minimum?

gusman?

I mean hell, we've got Lindsey and Theo back, so why not?

Maybe Joe will suit up?

Maybe New York will finally fire Isiah and he can come back back up Chauncey.

What is our aversion to having an enforcer off the bench, especially one who can rebound and stay healthy?

Whoa, I just had a flashback to Kelly Tripucka calling Theo "The Rattler".

how bout the chief? don reid would solve a lot of problems. not basketball related problems, but problems.

What is our aversion to having an enforcer off the bench, especially one who can rebound and stay healthy?


Max?

At least Theo has size to play center. He won't steal minutes, but I like him better than DD.

I approve of this.

You go, Theo.

Loved that motherfucker back in the days.

Whoa, I just had a flashback to Kelly Tripucka
~cue "memories" theme music~
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/p-tripuka.jpg
http://pistonsonline.com/images/historypics/Kelly_Tripucka2.jpg
http://assets.espn.go.com/media/pg2/2005/1212/photo/g_tripucka_195.jpg
http://www.flipsidesports.net/tripucka1.jpg


http://www.thesportshernia.com/basketball/images/dominique.jpg



Dominique Wilkins Sends E-mail to Kelly Tripucka, Reminding Him of Embarassing Career

By: T. Ryan (July 2006)

ATLANTA, GA (AP) - Golf? Embarrassing charity events? Poor contributions to a broadcasting panel? Not for former NBA all-star Dominique Wilkins. The Human Highlight Reel has become quite the prankster and taken his retirement days into cyberspace. Hernia sources have obtained a copy of an email he sent to Kelly Tripucka (left) last week, with a picture attached showing 'Nique skying over his fellow NBA alum (below).

"I logged into my account and figured, here we go, same old thing, twenty-five emails from Ian Eagle, Jeff Ruland, and some bored Notre Dame hoops fans," Tripucka said. "But then I saw 'Nique's name and went right to it. I even called my wife over. Turned out the joke was on me. That picture is just awful. I don't even know where he found it. I hope it's a fake.

Accompanying the humorous picture was simply this: "Hey Kelly, remember this one? LOL! Talk to you soon, 'Nique." Now while some may find this to be somewhat odd, it appears to be sparking a new trend. When told of the story, former player Charles Barkley, after he finished laughing, said, "I think it's great. In fact, I can't wait to send out a few myself. I hope Sean Bradley has room in his inbox. And someone get me Frederic Weis' email. I gotta send him that video of Vince teabagging him at the Olympics."

After discovering the joy of prank emails with his retired buddies, "Nique has decided to forego his appearance on the next "Jocks vs. Joes" season and looks like he's finally found his niche.

Max?
Max is only an enforcer in training, and defensive rebounding is still an issue.

DD and Max were a perfect pairing.

I've seen him act a bit thuggish out there, and yes, rebounding is only average, but he play the tough guy for us.

Sean Bradley?

Sean Bradley got posterized constantly.

The thing that concerns me is that over the last few years, Theo's rebounding numbers have been worse than Maxiell's. Especially this year. I guess Joe thought we needed shot blocking more than man-to-man D and rebounding.

I'm starting to think Dale would have been a better choice. We already have 2 bigs coming off the bench that are weak-side defenders rather than man-to-man guys.

Oh well, if everything goes well, he should only sniff the floor during garbage time.

Ratliff expected to go to Pistons after leaving Minnesota

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
29 minutes ago

DETROIT (AP)—The Detroit Pistons are expected to add center Theo Ratliff next week, a person familiar with the upcoming transaction told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal couldn’t yet be completed, said the move will be made on Tuesday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves requested waivers on Ratliff after reaching an agreement on a buyout of his contract. About one-third of Ratliff’s $11.6 million salary remained for this season, but vice president Kevin McHale said the Timberwolves will pay him “a little less” than that.

Ratliff’s agent approached the team about the move, which will allow more time down the stretch for young post players like Chris Richard and Craig Smith.

Ratliff’s contract was expiring at the end of the season, and the Timberwolves—who have the worst record in the Western Conference—are busy evaluating what they’ve got for the future. The Wolves have bought out guard Troy Hudson, forward Juwan Howard and now Ratliff over the past seven months.

Forward Antoine Walker wants a buyout, too, but he’s unwilling to forgo much of the remainder of his $8.5 million salary this season or a $9.3 million figure next season. The Wolves have made an offer, but an agreement by Saturday didn’t appear imminent.

“They said they weren’t comfortable with that, and that’s where it is,” McHale said.

Walker could be a valuable trade asset this summer.

Ratliff came to Minnesota from Boston in the Kevin Garnett trade and has played in only 10 games. The 34-year-old was relatively productive when he played, but a knee injury kept him on the sideline for 45 games. Ratliff returned to action last week.

Because he was let go before Saturday’s deadline, he can sign with another team and be eligible for the playoff roster.

The Pistons can use him, too.

Detroit, which has the second-best record in the NBA, has been looking for frontcourt depth since sending center Primoz Brezec to Toronto for guard Juan Dixon last week.

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Ratliff began his NBA career in Detroit, where he played from 1995 until he was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in a December 1997 trade that sent Jerry Stackhouse to the Pistons.

Ratliff later played for Atlanta, Portland and Boston before the trade last summer. He has averaged 8 points and 6.2 rebounds during his career, and 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season.

So the net effect of the trade:


Pistons acquire:
Juan Dixon
Theo Ratliff

In exchange for:
Primoz Brezec
Flip Murray
Cash

I think Joe did very well, assuming Theo can stay healthy.

why did we send cash to Toronto?

what happens with cash involving trades anyway?

I'm guessing that they sent Toronto cash to make up for the difference in Brezec's and Dixon's contracts.

Sally Ann (Wixom) - Dear Keith, what is "cash"?

I think Joe did very well, assuming Theo can stay healthy.



Ditto. It's nothing big. But it's two quality veterans who can give you production if needed...

Danny Ferry, John Paxson, Otis Smith, Billy Knight, Pfund, Larry Bird and every other Eastern Conference GM be taking notes...

http://pistonsonline.com/images/historypics/Kelly_Tripucka2.jpg


Borat looked very nice.

why did we send cash to Toronto?

what happens with cash involving trades anyway?

It pays for hookers, drugs and liquor for the team that the player was traded to. Yeah it's an old NBA tradition that began back in the 70's. The team hires the nastiest group of street walkers they can find and they pay them exorbitant sums of money to act like total whore freaks. The whole thing is somewhat of a practical joke for the incoming player(s). Kind of a roast (beef sandwich) minus the famous comedians. I hear it's a good time if you can avoid the clap.

Theo Ratliff is old injury prone shit that was just an average player healthy.
Fuck this bench riding waste of money Joe!

- B.D.

Some hack from the Orlando Sentinel wrote today that the Pistons could sign Ratliff and Dale Davis.

Would that mean retirement for Lindsey?

only if Lindsey is too hurt to come back and play. It's possible.

Ratliff got a nice ovation at the palace today. I missed that rattlesnake soundbyte.

Does he play against the Celtics? I've seen conflicting reports on that.

He won't play until New York.

Theo has looked really good for the most part, IMO.

I like the fact that opponents are looking a bit more timid when they think about coming into the paint when he is in there.

He quietly had 10pts, 8 rebs and 3 blks yesterday.

Start Sheed + McDyess and swap McDyess within a few minutes for Ratliff.

Called upon soon after his re-arrival, Theo Ratliff is making immediate impact

BY CHRIS SILVA • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • March 11, 2008

Pistons coach Flip Saunders didn't expect to need Theo Ratliff so soon.

Then again, Saunders didn't expect to have starting center Rasheed Wallace sidelined with a sprained left ankle.

Ratliff has made a strong impression on the coaching staff. He started the first two games in his second stint as a Piston, and the 13-year veteran has averaged 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 24 minutes.

"I think he's exactly what we thought he was, and I think that he's going to be a big, big plus for us," Saunders said.

After appearing in only 10 games before the Pistons signed him March 4, Ratliff said he has felt rejuvenated in his short time here. He feels blessed to be reunited with strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander, who is helping Ratliff regain the strength in his surgically repaired right knee, which was operated on Dec. 18 to repair a torn meniscus. Ratliff rehabbed the knee for two months and said he's pain-free.

"As I said, it's going to be real scary once I get my full health and once I get my legs up under me," Ratliff said. "It's going to be a surprise to a lot of people throughout the league."

Today is Ratliff's first practice with the Pistons. But already, he said, he has felt comfortable on the floor with the rest of the regulars.

Ratliff said the Pistons often have improvised when he's on the court, so the fact Ratliff has blended in shouldn't be a surprise. Ratliff is finally playing on a veteran team. Past teams of which he has been a part -- like Atlanta, Portland and Minnesota -- have been loaded with younger players who lack maturity and court awareness.

"The game is so easy right now," Ratliff said. "And these guys do a great job of seeing things, and they're doing a great job of getting the ball to me when I'm flashing in the middle. When I can catch the ball four or five feet from the basket, I can score that easy. So I look forward to just continue playing with these guys, continue growing with these guys; just continue to push forward."

Added captain Chauncey Billups: "It's been a long time since I've seen other guys come in the paint and be looking for somebody like, 'Dang, where's he at?' Some of them he blocks, some he doesn't. But he's always on the right coverages defensively. ... When he gets the opportunity to score, he's doing that. He's getting us extra opportunities, offensive rebounds. Great, great, great acquisition."

That would be scary if Theo got his legs back.

Arnie's probably been rubbing turnip juice and goat's blood on his legs.

Yeah, I said goat's blood.

The Palace lockerroom is fresh out of alpaca blood, Max has been making Bloody Mary's again.

Alpaca blood is very rare. It's hard to find one that another species has gotten the best of it. The only reason they can make aplaca sweaters is they are bred in captivity. Try drawing blood on one of those in the wild...

I think he's exactly what we thought he was

THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!

I haven't paid much attention to him when he has played. What are your thoughts?

In the little bit I saw, he looked pretty good.

In the little bit I saw, he looked pretty good.

SHUT UP! I am trying to convince him that Theo is terrible.

My bad Bubbles, I didn't know.

Even if Theo is horrible I can't take anything he says seriously, especially after his Suns post.

Even if Theo is horrible I can't take anything he says seriously, especially after his Suns post.

They can't all be winners......

Apparently, Rob Parker is claiming that Theo will be brought back by the Pistons.

I assume that it's the "we'll call you when we need you", Elden Campbell role.

hopefully we never need that sludge fuck bucket.

They must not be that high on Samb if that's the case. <sigh>

Or dont think he's ready just yet like they said recently. I think the time table was more for the year after the 08-09 season.

The Neitzel/Samb D-League connection has the potential to be legendary.

Ask the Expert: Could Jazz sign Ratliff?
By Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/15/2008 01:41:51 PM MDT

Posted: 1:40 PM-

Question:
Any chance Utah signs Theo Ratliff? I'm not sure what kind of locker-room guy he is, but he is a great defensive presence and has a knack for blocking shots. He's 35 and he's had his share of injuries. But just as he did last season, he wouldn't be called upon to play a lot of minutes and, I think, would have a good defensive presence for the Jazz.
-- Landon

Answer:
Since Theo Ratliff's days at the University of Wyoming, I have liked his game.

I was surprised when the Pistons used the 18th pick in the first round of the 1995 draft on Ratliff, considering his modest numbers in college -- 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in 111 games. But Ratliff has always been an athletic, hard-working shot-blocker and those kind of players can usually find a niche in the NBA.

In 13 seasons, Ratliff has been a productive player. In 2000-01, when he played in Philadelphia, he enjoyed his best season -- averaging 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots. The problem? Ratliff played in only 50 games.

Injuries have always held back Ratliff, who has played 50 games or less five times in his career. He has played a full 82-game season only twice. In the last two years, Ratliff has played a total of 28 regular-season games for Boston, Minnesota and Detroit.

Now, to address your question.

Despite his injuries and advancing age -- Ratliff will be 36 before the end of next season -- I believe he is the type of player who could help the Jazz.

In his first 12 seasons, Ratliff averaged one blocked shot for every 10 minutes he was on the floor. For a comparison, ex-Jazz center Mark Eaton had one block every eight minutes, so you can see Ratliff's ability to impact a game with his defense.

I'm guessing Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, who I know has always been fan, has talked to Ratliff's agent since July 1.

That said, don't expect Ratliff to end up in Utah. From everything I can gather, he is preparing to re-sign with the Pistons.

In my opinion, the only way the Jazz could entice Ratliff to Utah would be to overpay him and give him at least a two-year contract, and I don't think that's what O'Connor wants to do at this stage in his young team's development.

Thank you jazz.

I'll take Theo back at the vet's minimum.

He's better than anything else that we'd get to play center for that price, IMO.

I'll take Theo back at the vet's minimum.

He's better than anything else that we'd get to play center for that price, IMO.
Then I'll take Samb over him. Theo is done as a player imo and as a shell of his former self useless to us. Please Jazz make this discussion a moot subject.

Then I'll take Samb over him.

It's not an either/or proposition.

We're going to have minimum salary vets on the roster. The question is, which ones.

It depends on how Bynum and the 3rd PG spot shakes out and whether Sharpe can contribute. I don't have a problem with Ratliff on the roster unless we need those vet mins to cover other holes.

Philly is interested in Theo to replace Jason Smith (torn ACL).

Source says Ratliff, Sixers agree to 1-year deal
By PHIL JASNER
Philadelphia Daily News
jasnerp@phillynews.com

The 76ers could have a veteran backup big man in place as early as today.

Theo Ratliff, 35, a veteran of 13 NBA seasons, has sifted through four offers and settled on rejoining the Sixers on a 1-year contract, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The source said the 6-10 Ratliff could visit with the Sixers today and accept a 1-year contract for the veterans' minimum of $1.4 million. By the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, a portion of the salary would be paid out of a leaguewide pool.

When asked yesterday about the search for an additional big man, Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski said he hoped to have a resolution "within 48 hours," but would not elaborate.

Ratliff was acquired by the Sixers from Detroit during the 1997-98 season and was traded to Atlanta during 2000-01. He was named an All-Star in '01, but was unable to play because of a wrist injury.

He has played for six teams during his career, including 10 games with Minnesota and 16 games with Detroit last season, his second stint with the Pistons. He appeared in two games with Boston in '06-07.

He led the league in blocks per game in '01 and '03, and holds career averages of 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 705 games.

Stefanski also said he was awaiting a decision from coach Maurice Cheeks on an assistant coach to take the place of Henry Bibby, who did not have his contract renewed. Former Sixers Jeff Ruland and Steve Mix and former Atlanta assistant Alton Lister were interviewed last week.

I was hoping that he was going to be our emergency signing if one of our bigs went down.

Thank you sixers, fuck you theo. :P In an emergency i'd rather role the dice on a young guy.

Theo Ratliff, 35, a veteran of 13 NBA seasons, has sifted through four offers and settled on rejoining the Sixers on a 1-year contract, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Damn, I missed that line the first time I read that.