Wojnarowski: Spurs sending Ratliff to Charlotte

Written by Michael A. De Leon

Thursday, 18 February 2010 15:57

Ratliff While a center seems to have been on the Spurs' wishlist all this week leading up to the trade deadline, it appears that the Spurs have decided to send away a center instead.

According to Yahoo Sports NBA columnist Adrian Wojnarowski, the Spurs are sending veteran journeyman center Theo Ratliff to Charlotte.

The Bobcats have been busy today working on a deal for Tyrus Thomas and a rumored deal that would send D.J. Augustin packing.

I can't see Ratliff sticking in Charlotte and the Spurs likely wanted to dump his $1.3 million contract. Through 26 games, Ratliff averaged 1.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and nearly one block in 8.7 minutes per game. We here at Project Spurs have wondered why Ratliff never saw an increase in minutes, when he seemed to be a shot blocking beast when he was given significant playing time.

Be sure to stay with us here as we'll update you with more details as they come in and all of the latest news. Be sure to also stay up to date with all of the trade rumors at Project Spurs Trade Central.

Update: The Spurs will not be taking a player back and instead were given a future conditional pick. Ratliff was making the league minimum $1.3 million, which lessens the Spurs’ luxury-tax bill.

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Comments (5) Add Comment

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written by SpursFanHenry, February 18, 2010

I thought we could use him for defense. Purely salary dump and we lost another center?

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written by Timothy Varner, February 18, 2010

Slight correction, Michael. The 1.3 is the total savings, including taxes. Basically, the remainder of his current contract + that amount in taxes.

Another great move by management!
written by New York City, February 19, 2010

I don't know about you guys, but I think this was a fantastic deal. I am so psyched!

Clearly we needed a big defender. That is why we got Ratliff in the first place. But Ratliff was too good. That's why we never played him: to save him for the playoffs so that he could be too good in the playoffs.

However, our astute management staff recognized that we still had an immediate need to put a big man out there along side Timmy. I don't know if y'all noticed, but this team needs help. And lord knows Pop was never going to let Ian see the light of day. And that is why we made this trade for Tyrus Thomas, dealing off Ratliff while holding onto Ian, thereby ensuring we will continue to have that Did Not Play position locked-down.

With Thomas, we get the defensive big man we've--- what? We didn't get Thomas from Chicago? Well, then where did we send Ratliff off to? Charlotte?

I like this trade with Charlotte a lot because we got rid of dead weight, an old bench warmer who Pop had clearly decided he had no use for, in exchange for a young, athletic big that may or may not provide an impact this season. We won't know until we play him, but we can be certain that if nothing else, we've at least saved a ton of money with this--- hmm, that's interesting. It says here Ratliff was only making the veteran minimum.

Regardless, Ratliff clearly was not working out as evidenced by his poor showing on the court night in and night out, so we might as well take a gamble on... um, what's his name. Let's see here, who did we get in return from Charlotte...
A lottery pick? We didn't get a center? We didn't get a player at all? We gave away a center and got nothing back?

OK. Well. Clearly the management knows something we don't, and that is why they have concluded that this season is a wash, and we should focus on drafting an immediate impact player this summer to reload for 2011. Ratliff was not the piece that was going to push us over the hump. Christ, he rarely even played! Hahaha, stupid Bobcats! We got your first round pick for nothing! Our management is so much better than you can ever hope to--- what?

Second round?

2016?

So,let me get this straight: we sent away our secret-weapon center so we can secure a second-round pick 6 years from now?

smilies/angry.gif

I quit.

I fucking quit.

@New York City
written by AmyfromLA, February 19, 2010

I just realized we traded Ratliff for a 2016 pick too! =( I wonder was that really the best the Spurs management could do to dump salary? I'm appalled and depressed by it all. =*( I just don't understand why they won't just put Ratliff out there to eat up space and rest Timmy. The guy has no offense, I get that, but he could at least block some shots! *sighz*

BTW, what is a future conditional pick?