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Master Shake wrote:I like Hermann a lot, he's better than Hayes. However, Joe is a man of his word, and he brought Jarvis in and most likely made a promise to him. Putting him on the IR would be a slap in the face to Jarvis.
srt4b wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Jarvis's chukking & overall horrid play is a slap in the face to Joe D, so it;s justified.
The Detroit Pistons signed center Theo Ratliff, who was released Friday by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 13-year veteran signed a free-agent deal with the Detroit Pistons, the team he started his career with in 1995. Ratliff was traded to Philadelphia in 1997 for Jerry Stackhouse, and has also played for Atlanta, Boston, Portland and Minnesota."It's great to be back," Ratliff said Tuesday night. "I feel like I'm home again."Ratliff only played 10 games for Minnesota this season. The Timberwolves agreed to buy out his contract in order let him play for a contender."Minnesota was very gracious about working with me, and when Detroit said they wanted me, it was an easy decision," Ratliff said. "I've been on a lot of bad teams, and now I'm at a point in my career where I'm looking to be on a contender."
"Minnesota was very gracious about working with me, and when Detroit said they wanted me, it was an easy decision," Ratliff said. "I've been on a lot of bad teams, and now I'm at a point in my career where I'm looking to be on a contender."It helped that Pistons president Joe Dumars and assistant coach Michael Curry are both old teammates of Ratliff's, as is reserve guard Lindsey Hunter."Theo will give us a solid veteran presence in the locker room and add depth to our front line," Dumars said. "Having started his career here in Detroit, he understands the culture of our organization and what is expected."Pistons coach Flip Saunders said that Ratliff could play as soon as Wednesday in Boston.
The Pistons officially welcomed Theo Ratliff back into the mix when they signed the veteran center to a prorated portion of the $1.3 million veteran
Theo Ratliff, a 13-year rolling stone among NBA players, has returned to the Detroit Pistons to find satisfaction."Now is the time for me to get my satisfaction -- my satisfaction of being able to become a Piston again with the team they have, the record they have and a team that knows where they are going," he said.
Ratliff, 34, cleared waivers Tuesday afternoon and signed a $1.3 million prorated contract to finish the season with the Pistons. The 34-year-old drafted by the Pistons in 1995, traveled to Boston with the team late Tuesday and could play as soon as tonight against the Celtics.Detroit coach Flip Saunders said Ratliff can help defensively. "He gives us added depth up front to play against a Cleveland team that has added some size; against an Orlando team that has a Dwight Howard inside; against a Boston with Kevin Garnett; Toronto with Chris Bosh," he said. "He gives you another long, big-bodied player that is more a true center than maybe anyone we have." Ratliff said he proposed the contract buyout with Minnesota."After Detroit called and said they would be open arms with me coming here there was no decision that had to be made," he said. "I just had to get my agent to get the deal done, and the rest was history."
Ratliff played in three seasons with the Pistons before being part of the 1997 deal with Philadelphia that brought Jerry Stackhouse to the Pistons. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 172 games in his first stint in Detroit. He has gone on to play 689 NBA games with other stops in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Portland, Boston and Minnesota. He has career averages of 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Ratliff has played in just 12 games the past two seasons because of knee and back injuries. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Dec. 18. In 10 games this season with Minnesota, including six starts, he averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
The Pistons hope they have found the last piece to complete their playoff roster puzzle.
Veteran center Theo Ratliff , who started his career in Detroit 13 years ago, signed a pro-rated $1.3 million contract with the Pistons. Ratliff, who will turn 35 on April 17, passed his physical.
"It's been a great journey, I've been on a lot of bad teams," Ratliff said. "I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of young guys who are up-and-coming now, have had a chance to be a great influence on guys. Now is the time for me to get my satisfaction." "He's a defensive player that has the ability to anchor a defense," Saunders said.
Coach Flip Saunders thinks newly acquired center Theo Ratliff can be more than just an insurance policy for the Pistons. "We think so, just because of his presence and some of the things he does," Saunders said after the team signed Ratliff to a prorated portion of the $1.3-million minimum for veterans when he cleared waivers and passed a physical Tuesday. Ratliff, a 13-year veteran who negotiated a buyout with the Minnesota Timberwolves last week, adds depth to the Pistons' frontcourt. Saunders also said he can help anchor the defense up front if the Pistons run into the likes of Orlando's Dwight Howard, Boston's Kevin Garnett, Toronto's Chris Bosh or Cleveland's Ben Wallace in the postseason. Saunders doesn't think adding Ratliff -- and Juan Dixon nearly two weeks ago -- creates logjams at the guard and big man spots; instead, the coach sees more competition among the reserves for playing time.
Saunders said he plans to stick to the current rotation for now, but the added depth could give him an opportunity to make a move if things aren't working."Competition off your bench usually creates a sense of urgency," he said.And though teams typically shorten their rotations for the playoffs, Saunders said the Pistons have plenty of time before deciding how to set theirs. "I think if our bench gives us in the playoffs what they're giving us right now, you're going to play them," he said, "and our hope is that they're going to be able to do that." Ratliff arrived at the Palace 75 minutes before tip-off against Seattle, introduced himself to his new teammates, ran some sprints with a brace on his right knee and joined the rest of the reserves for their pregame workout."It feels like I'm at home," Ratliff said. "I'm seeing a lot of the old faces. ... It's a great feeling right now."
Ratliff started his career in Detroit, entering the league the same year, 1995-96, as teammates Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace. Knee injuries have limited Ratliff to 12 games over the past two seasons. He played 10 this season with Minnesota, averaging 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 21.4 minutes. Ratliff had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Dec. 18, but he said it feels great."It's great to be back" with strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander, Ratliff said. "He's a miracle worker. I'll let him lay his hands on me and continue to progress my rehab and continue to get me over the top."
theBigLip wrote:What if Ratliff contributes 10mpg and does well? Would we keep him for next year too?
bstein14 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
If Ratliff does well in 6-8 minutes per half, is healthy, and we make it to the finals there may be a lot of interest in him this summer.
He is not really that old, and may have some extra gas in the tank because he basically had the last two seasons off.
I could see a team throwing a full MLE deal to him for 3 years to be their backup C if he does well with Detroit.
