In the News

Los Angeles Lakers' Theo Ratliff returns to practice after surgery
Lakers veteran center Theo Ratliff, who on Nov. 17 underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to perform a partial meniscectomy on his left knee, returned to the practice floor.

Lakers' Ratliff to miss 4 to 6 weeks
Lakers center Theo Ratliff will be sidelined for at least four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Theo Ratliff has knee surgery; Los Angeles Lakers eye center help
Los Angeles Lakers reserve center Theo Ratliff underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to perform a partial meniscectomy on his left knee, the team announced Tuesday.

Lakers C Ratliff out at least 4-6 weeks (AP)
Lakers center Theo Ratliff will be sidelined for at least four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Lakers say Ratliff had successful surgery Tuesday to remove part of his torn meniscus. The veteran shot-blocker's absence will further strain the two-time defending champions' frontcourt depth.

Lakers rip Warriors to improve to 3-0 (AP)

Pau Gasol had 26 points and 12 rebounds, Kobe Bryant added 20 points and the Los Angeles Lakers kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a 107-83 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. Lamar Odom had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who easily improved to 3-0 with their 10th consecutive win over their upstate rivals.

Lakers sign C Ratliff to 1-year contract (AP)
Veteran center Theo Ratliff has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Ratliff said Thursday he'll join the two-time defending NBA champions as a backup to 7-foot stars Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. The 15-year pro played 49 games last season with San Antonio and Charlotte, averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Los Angeles Lakers add depth with 15-year veteran Theo Ratliff
The Lakers signed veteran big man Theo Ratliff on Thursday.

Pierce scores 27 as Celts rout Bobcats (AP)

Paul Pierce scored 27 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 104-80 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Nate Robinson had 16 points, including three 3-pointers in a 90-second span bridging the first and second quarters to key a 16-0 run, for the Celtics. Kevin Garnett added 12 points as Boston won its second straight and beat up on Charlotte for the third time this season.

Butler, Kaman lift Clippers over Bobcats (AP)

The Clippers became the latest in a series of teams the Charlotte Bobcats thought they should have beaten and didn't. Rasual Butler scored 20 points and Chris Kaman had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles on Monday night in a 98-94 victory that ended their four-game losing streak against the Bobcats.

Bulls send F Thomas to Bobcats (AP)
Tyrus Thomas has arrived in Charlotte and is expected to play against Cleveland, a day after being acquired in the Bobcats' latest deal. Thomas and Theo Ratliff, acquired in a separate trade, walked onto the court Friday morning after taking their physicals. Most of their new teammates had already left the floor following shootaround, but guard Stephen Jackson hugged them both.

Bobcats spoil Jamison's debut with Cavs (AP)

Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and the Charlotte Bobcats took advantage of Antawn Jamison's miserable debut for Cleveland in a 110-93 victory Friday night to send the Cavaliers to their second straight loss. Two days after being acquired from Washington, Jamison came off the bench and went 0 for 12 from the field.

Spurs extend Bobcats' road struggles (AP)

Manu Ginobili scored 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Charlotte Bobcats 104-85 Friday night. Tim Duncan and Richard Jefferson added 17 apiece and the Spurs dropped the Bobcats to 1-9 on the road. Charlotte won't get any breaks Saturday night against the Mavericks, a team the Bobcats have never beaten.

Spurs sign center Theo Ratliff
The San Antonio Spurs have signed center Theo Ratliff. Terms of the deal announced Saturday were not disclosed. The 6-foot-10 Ratliff spent last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 1.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.02 blocks in 12.6 minutes while appearing in 46 games. Ratliff has also played for Detroit, Atlanta, Portland, Boston and Minnesota during 14 NBA seasons.

San Antonio Spurs sign veteran big man Theo Ratliff from Philadelphia 76ers
The San Antonio Spurs have signed center Theo Ratliff.

Spurs sign veteran C Ratliff (AP)
The San Antonio Spurs have signed center Theo Ratliff. Terms of the deal announced Saturday were not disclosed. The 6-foot-10 Ratliff spent last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 1.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.02 blocks in 12.6 minutes while appearing in 46 games. Ratliff has also played for Detroit, Atlanta, Portland, Boston and Minnesota during 14 NBA seasons.

Sixers rain 3s on Bucks in 110-105 win (AP)

Andre Miller hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left, finishing with 28 points and nine rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a rare road win Wednesday night, 110-105 over the Milwaukee Bucks. Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo challenged his team to make at least five 3s one game after he thought the Sixers were being tentative because they were the worst long-distance shooting team in the...

Harris leads Nets by cold-shooting 76ers (AP)

Devin Harris scored 27 points and the New Jersey Nets took advantage of Philadelphia's late shooting woes to beat the 76ers 95-84 on Sunday night. Vince Carter added 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and the Nets hit nine 3-pointers in the second half and shot 42.3 percent (11-for-26) beyond the arc.

Former Sixer Ratliff returns to Philly
Theo Ratliff returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, seven years after he was traded from the team during its run to the NBA Finals. The 35-year-old Ratliff played 26 games for Minnesota and Detroit and appeared in 12 of the Pistons' 17 playoff games. Terms of Ratliff's deal with the Sixers weren't disclosed. "We're very fortunate to sign a player of Theo's caliber," general manager Ed Stefanski said.

Depth charge: Ratliff returns to fold in Philadelphia
Theo Ratliff returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, seven years after he was traded from the team during its run to the NBA Finals.

Ratliff returns to Sixers 7 years later (AP)
Theo Ratliff returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, seven years after he was traded from the team during its run to the NBA Finals. The 35-year-old Ratliff played 26 games for Minnesota and Detroit and appeared in 12 of the Pistons' 17 playoff games. Terms of Ratliff's deal with the Sixers weren't disclosed.

Magic, Pistons trade barbs before Game 2 (AP)
The Detroit-Orlando series is not as intriguing as the other three matchups in the NBA playoffs. The Pistons and Magic are trying to change that. A day after Detroit beat Orlando 91-72 in Game 1 of their second-round series, players on both teams took verbal swipes at each other. Magic forward Rashard Lewis took down Theo Ratliff with a physical foul midway through the fourth quarter, and Jason...

Lewis, Ratliff getting chippy after Game 1
The Detroit-Orlando series is not as intriguing as the other three matchups in the NBA playoffs. The Pistons and Magic are trying to change that. A day after Detroit beat Orlando 91-72 in Game 1 of their second-round series, players on both teams took verbal swipes at each other. Magic forward Rashard Lewis took down Theo Ratliff with a physical foul midway through the fourth quarter, and Jason Maxiell quickly got in Lewis' face with a menacing look and choice words.

Pistons rip Magic 91-72 in series opener (AP)
The Detroit-Orlando series is not as intriguing as the other three matchups in the NBA playoffs. The Pistons and Magic are trying to change that. A day after Detroit beat Orlando 91-72 in Game 1 of their second-round series, players on both teams took verbal swipes at each other. Magic forward Rashard Lewis took down Theo Ratliff with a physical foul midway through the fourth quarter, and Jason...

Pistons clinch second-best record in NBA (AP)

Flip Saunders only cares about one more thing in the regular season. He wants his Detroit Pistons to get through Wednesday's game in Cleveland without an injury. After Detroit's 115-103 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night, Saunders said he wasn't worried about someone getting hurt in the meaningless game against the Cavaliers, but he knocked on the wooden table as he said it.

Pistons rest 3, but still beat Wolves (AP)

With mentor Chauncey Billups watching his every move from the sideline, rookie Rodney Stuckey did his best "Mr. Big Shot" impression for the Detroit Pistons' "B" squad. As Billups has done so many times before in a Detroit uniform, Stuckey did much of his damage when his team needed him most, scoring 12 of his career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Pistons to a 94-90 victory over...

Knicks, Pistons missing power forwards (AP)
Rasheed Wallace and Zach Randolph both missed Friday's game, leaving the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks without their starting power forwards. Wallace sprained his left ankle Wednesday in a loss at Boston and did not dress. Theo Ratliff, signed Tuesday, started at center in his first game for Detroit this season, with Antonio McDyess shifting to forward.

Recently bought-out C Ratliff signs with Pistons
The Detroit Pistons signed center Theo Ratliff, who was released Friday by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Pistons sign C Theo Ratliff (AP)
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.

Pistons to pounce on Ratliff after Wolves' buyout
The Detroit Pistons next week are expected to add center Theo Ratliff, whose contract was bought out by the Timberwolves on Friday, a person familiar with the upcoming transaction told AP on Friday.

T-Wolves, Ratliff agree to contract buyout
The Minnesota Timberwolves have requested waivers on veteran center Theo Ratliff after reaching agreement on a buyout of his contract. Ratliff came to Minnesota from Boston in the Kevin Garnett trade last summer 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. Ratliff was in the final season of his current contract and scheduled to make more than $11.

Wolves: Ratliff to get sore right knee scoped
Minnesota Timberwolves center Theo Ratliff will have exploratory arthroscopic surgery next week on his right knee that has kept him out for the past month. Ratliff will have the operation done Tuesday by surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., the team announced Thursday. No timetable for his return will be set until after the examination, but if there's no significant damage discovered he could be back soon.

Wolves' Ratliff to have knee scoped next week
Minnesota Timberwolves center Theo Ratliff will have exploratory arthroscopic surgery next week on his right knee that has kept him out for the past month.

Wolves C Ratliff to have knee surgery (AP)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Theo Ratliff will have exploratory arthroscopic surgery next week on his right knee that has kept him out for the past month. Ratliff will have the operation done Tuesday by surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., the team announced Thursday. No timetable for his return will be set until after the examination, but if there's no significant damage discovered he...

Butler, Wizards defeat Wolves 105-89 (AP)

If the Washington Wizards continue to show the type of explosiveness they did on Friday night, their horrible start to the season will soon be forgotten. Caron Butler scored a season-high 29 points, Gilbert Arenas added 27, and the Wizards beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-89 for their third consecutive victory.

McCants leads Timberwolves to first win (AP)

The Timberwolves want Rashad McCants to shoot, and that's just what he did. McCants scored a career-high 33 points on 13-for-22 shooting in Minnesota's first victory this season, 108-103 over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night. Ron Artest returned from his seven-game suspension with 17 points and six assists for the Kings, who have lost all five of their road games.

Theo Ratliff, F/C - MIN
Ratliff's back still an issue Visit Rotoworld.com for more analysis on this update.