From Chris McCosky’s blog:
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.
Talk about coming out of left field, huh? No word on what the jilted Dale Davis plans on doing, but presumably he’d be interested in latching on with another contender looking to add a veteran big man for the stretch run.
I always liked Ratliff, though I wonder how much he has left in the tank. Of course, that’s why Arnie Kander makes the big bucks — once Ratliff gets a few gallons of Arnie’s magic water, I’m sure he’ll be jumping out of the gym just like the old days.
It’s also interesting that the Pistons settled for a relative lightweight center instead of a physical bruiser like Davis — with Shaq irrelevant in Phoenix, there’s really not a need to keep a designated wide body around. That said, I can’t think of a better mentor to help Amir Johnson harness his incredible shot-blocking ability without getting called for a foul every other trip down the court.
while I’ll miss Dale Davis, this is an interesting choice. Let’s hope Theo only gets ceremonial minutes, and we don’t actually need the banger that Davis was to this team. You’re right on that point Matt, this shows how Dumars feels about the Shaq/Marion trade…
I like us signing Ratliff.
He has always been known for his defense and presumably can still play a bit.
His game on defense is similar to AJ’s and I agree he should be able to help AJ improve his defense and cut down on his fouls. In fact that may have been the main reason we signed him rather than DD whose game on defense was different than AJ’s is.
This was a good signing.
P.S. Ratliff’s career blocks per 36 minutes is greater than Camby’s; i.e., 3.5 to 3.2. AJ’s is higher than both of them at 3.8
Ratliff will be a great mentor to Samb too (if they cross paths with Samb in the D-League).
If anybody was watching the Mavs-Spurs game last night on TNT, someone (I think it was Doug Collins) said, “the Pistons just signed Dale Davis.”
I guess he spoke too soon.
According to Bill Simmons, the player we just picked up is named “Theo Ratliff’s Expiring Contract.”
What I don’t get is why in the world would the Wolves buy him out? Doesn’t letting his contract expire give them huge cap room relief? Am I missing something?
This will probably keep Sheed in better playing shape because he won’t be out all the time with his old drinking buddy Dale Davis.
It’s a good move on the Pistons part, although I was looking forward to going to games and calling out, “DOUBLE D!!”
Alex K: it will expire whether he is bought out or not, but a buyout allows an agreement in which the Wolves pay less and Ratlif has the opportunity to earn more elsewhere.
The question is, is Theo Ratliff’s Expiring Contract healthier and in better shape than Dale Davis?
I like it. TREC has been on bad teams for awhile now, and injured for some time. Nothing gets you feeling better then going to a championship contender. We should match him up against Mutombo and get them to have an old man block off.
I can’t help it, but any time TR does anything, I’m gonna use my best Cosby voice and go “Theo!”
The old man blockoff sounds like a lot of broken hips and tears. It needs to happen.
As a Wolves fan, I’ve been kinda bummed that Theo hasn’t been healthy enough to play much this year (until this week, that is). If he can stay healthy, I think he definitely has something left in the tank - at least as much as Double D (whom I also like). He still has good timing for weakside shot blocking, and can grab a few rebounds. He should be a good fit for the Pistons - hopefully his health will pick up now that he’s on a contender.
Is Rik Smits available?
matt or anyone. is it possible now that yao is gone, that houston might steal ratliff away from us before the the deadline? that ratliff might get more interested for more money and playing time? what you guys think? joe should make a move asap.
60. How do buy-outs affect a team’s salary cap?
The agreed-upon buy-out amount (see question number 59) is included in the team salary instead of the salary called for in the contract. If the player had more than one season left on his contract, then the buy-out money is distributed among those seasons in proportion to the original salary. For example, say a player had three seasons remaining on his contract, with salaries of $10 million, $11 million and $12 million. The player and team agree to a buyout of $15 million. The $15 million is therefore charged to the team salary over the three seasons. Since the original contract had $33 million left to be paid, and $10 million is 30.3% of $33 million, 30.3% of the $15 million buyout, or $4.545 million, is included in the team salary in the first season following the buyout. Likewise, 33.33% of $15 million, or $5 million, is included in the team salary in the second season, and 36.36% of $15 million, or $5.455 million, is included in the team salary in the third season.
The distribution of the buy-out money is a matter of individual negotiation. Changing the number of years in which the money is paid does not change the number of years in which the team’s team salary is charged. In the above example in which the player’s contract is bought out with three seasons remaining, the buyout amount is always charged to the team salary over three seasons. It does not matter if the player is actually paid in a lump sum or over 20 years (a spread provision).
So it seems that the T-Wolves will only be charged against their cap with the prorated buy out amount which I am sure was a lot less then his contract amount of $11.6 million this year.
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm
I’m not sure what the confusion is about how Theo’s buyout affects the cap … He was due $11.6 million this year, and has already been paid roughly $8 million. Instead of letting him rot at the end of the bench and collect his remaining $3.6 million, the team agreed to a buyout — I don’t know what it was, but for argument’s sake let’s say $3 million. So basically the Timberwolves will pay him $11 million for 2/3 of the season instead of $11.6 million for the entire season, and Ratliff is now free to seek another contract elsewhere. He’s leaving some money on the table, but in his mind it’s worth it since he’ll get to play for a contender.
Either way, since this was the last year of his contract, it’s off the Timberwolves’ books next year.
I know this is another topic, but what do folks here think about the Celtics probably getting Sam Cassell?
Theo is only one year older than Sheed and Dice
Screw Ratliff, get Olden Polynice on the phone!
I hear Orlando Woolridge is looking for some run!
Laimbeer will come back and smite LeBron James with his anger.
So let me get this straight Joe D turned Nazr Mohammad and Flip Murray into Herrmann, Dixon, and the Rattler. Well done Joe… Well done indeed.
Toledo Joe: I think it gives Boston (assuming the signing goes through as rumored) a huge boost. The purported ECF between the Celtics and Pistons just went in my mind from Advantage: Pistons to Advantage: Even. I wouldn’t say it’s Boston’s series to lose now, but it certainly gives them a guy who can D up Chauncey and contribute consistently on the offensive end, which is the only absolutely necessary thing they truly lacked in matching up against us (except possibly for a thin bench, but that may not matter and it’s also been improved by the Cassell/Brown signings).
Brad: Yeah, although Nazr has worked out quite well in Charlotte he was not getting it done here (unfortunately). We all hated Flip Murray, good riddance. Herrmann, Dixon and Ratliff all bring their own unique qualities that bolster this squad. Joe is absolutely phenomenal at what he does.
Cassell’s a little creaky, though, and Brown hasn’t played all year. To use a cliche, on paper it looks good, but these old boys that sign on for one last shot rarely translate into playoff success for their teams *cough* C-Webb *cough*.
Keegan, Cassell’s averaging 13 and 5, that may be below his career numbers, but that doesn’t quite sound like an “old boy” angling for “one last shot” to me. That dude is 37, but he can still ball. It’s an upgrade for the Celtics. How much of an upgrade? Who knows. I’m not sure that the Celtics have the pieces now that they have Cassell, but if that’s the case, it’s no fault of Cassell’s. That dude is good.
Sorry bro, agree to disagree. Cassell’s health has been spotty the past two years. The numbers may be decent, but he was one of the few things propping up an awful Clippers team. He’d better put up decent numbers among that crew.
At 37, taking a buyout and going directly to the best team in the league for the minimum…I stand by my statement. But who could blame him?
Have fun with Brevin Knight at the helm, LA.
Keegan, the health issue is definitely a legitimate case that I glossed over. However, not that I expect this to change your mind, but Cassell is a career 86.1% FT shooter, who’s shooting upwards of 89% this year. By comparison, Rajon Rondo is averaging about 61% this year (65% last year). I don’t like that at all. With Allen, Pierce, and now Cassell, this team will make you pay dearly at the foul line.
True, true. No, it’s a good deal for both parties, Celts and Sam. I love Rondo, and I just can’t believe that FT% out of a point guard. I was completely ignorant of that. Celts and Pistons in the East, no doubt, but I think the Pistons prevail.
It warms my heart to see that Al Jefferson is destroying the Cavs on the inside tonight. Z and Ben might not be the wall I suspected they could be. But it IS Big Al…
With Yao out for the year why would Houston let Ratliff clear waivers?
Wow. All that honey wasted for nothing.
- 5 creativity points, Joe Dumars (-3 if he’d nabbed Dale)