Owner Real Deal Posted July 22, 2010 Owner Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 The Los Angeles Lakers are shoring up the potential loss of forward Josh Powell to the Atlanta Hawks by agreeing to terms with veteran big man Theo Ratliff on a one-year deal for the veterans' minimum of $1.35 million, according to a league source. Ratliff, 37, started last season with the San Antonio Spurs, but was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats at the trade deadline for a future second-round pick. He gave the young Bobcats a boost down the stretch as Charlotte made the playoffs, averaging 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 22 minutes a game. He has been one of the league's best defensive players of his era, leading the NBA in blocked shots per game three times. The 15-year veteran has played for eight NBA teams in his career, which began as a first-round pick for the Pistons in 1995. Ratliff was a key part of the 76ers' team that went on to make the Finals in 2001, making his lone All-Star team that season, but was traded days after that appearance to Atlanta in a package for Dikembe Mutombo. Ratliff was also part of another major trade, going from Boston to Minnesota in 2007 as part of the Kevin Garnett trade.http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/?ls=iref:nbahpt1#Ratliff?ls=iref:nbahpt2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted July 22, 2010 Author Owner Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 Good signing. He's better than Powell on the defensive end, is an actual center, and plays his role well. Barnes is next. Blake, Ratliff, Barnes...just adding defense to every hole we had last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 I like him cuz' he is a pure Center, idk tha last time we had one off the bench. Mbenga don't count. Our bench is finally getting up to par again. Good tuff stuff, buff stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 Good signing, I dont think he will get alot of minutes but the will help off the bench when he does play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolaisballin Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/?ls=iref:nbahpt1#Ratliff?ls=iref:nbahpt2The second coming of Dikembe Mutombo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutch Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 very solid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorilla Dog Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 The Lakers upgraded the bench again. Ratliff is an upgrade over Powell and MBenga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xx. Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 I'm guessing this means that DJ Mbenga is gone as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammin Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Rich get richer eh? haha Theo will be a good 10-15mpg type player, but his knees are really bad so his jumping/blocking ability is slightly hindered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JYD Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Wow, can't believe he's still in the league. He's one of the first names I remember hearing when I first started watching basketball back in about 95/96ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Glad to see Theo is still finding work..props to him. ..Just don't put him in against Dwight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 (edited) Good pickup, hopefully this helps the bench. Powell/Mbenga were pretty useless unless we had a 50 point lead Edited July 23, 2010 by Lkr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Artesticle Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Our shotblocking presence Bynum averaged 1.5 bpg last year. Theo Ratliff averaged 1.5 bpg last year. We finally have another shot blocker on the roster. Barnes/Ratliff were great pickups by Mitch at a cheap price. Combine that with Steve Blake and our draft picks, I love our offseason. This likely means the end of DJ though, I'll miss him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 This definitely strengthens the Lakers' bench up a lot. Great signing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Swish* Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 (edited) Even though he's really old, he could still rebound the ball and score 2-5 points and some rebounds for the Lakers... good signing Edited July 23, 2010 by Sacha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterx Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 INCASE the lakers lose Powell? Who cares if you lose Powell? Has he ever done anything? An old Theo Ratliff is 10X better then a Josh Powell, a retired Theo Ratliff is better then a Josh Powell lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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