ESPN Insider is saying that they expect Ratliff to take a buyout in February and then sign with a team that needs size, they're thinking Boston or Phoenix...I'm thinking the Warriors would be a perfect fit
goddamnit everyone wants to go to Boston or Phoenix , the way they have played they do deserve it, i expect Ratliff to go the Phoenix or a wild card team, Boston not as much in this case, initially
This is good news for the Warriors, the more options available the better. I think Mighty Mouse might be the best fit for their style though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jan 27 2008, 04:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Warriors would be a terrible fit. His legs would die in the first game.</div> Considering he'd be bought out of his contract, he can be acquired at a low cost and wouldn't be expected to play more than 20-25 minutes. I'm not sure why anyone would think that he'd be a bad fit. There'd be 0 expectation for him to do anything but block shots and rebound which would fuel the fast break.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jan 28 2008, 09:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>20-25 minutes? You realize that his leg tweaks everytime he stands up, right?</div> Yeah, well, they're going to sign Webber, which doesn't really make up for the Warriors rebounding and defense inside, but it does make signing Ratliff that much more a fantasy. Also, we have two young guys in O'Bryant and Wright who we can ask to do just that: rebound and block shots. It's a matter of experience and roster management though.
With signing of both Webber and Watson, our roster is set to 15. Davis Watson Marco Monta Azu Croshere Jackson Pietrus Wright Harrington Barnes Perovic Biedrins Webber POB In order to sign Ratliff, we have to waive one player to make a roster. It won't be Marco, Wright or Perovic, so it's down to Croshere and POB. I don't see us waiving either of them, when Ratliff only played 8 games in last one and half years...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kwan1031 @ Jan 29 2008, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>With signing of both Webber and Watson, our roster is set to 15. Davis Watson Marco Monta Azu Croshere Jackson Pietrus Wright Harrington Barnes Perovic Biedrins Webber POB In order to sign Ratliff, we have to waive one player to make a roster. It won't be Marco, Wright or Perovic, so it's down to Croshere and POB. I don't see us waiving either of them, when Ratliff only played 8 games in last one and half years...</div> Ya, I posted this before the Webber signing.
Stoudamire or Ratliff? Neither IMO. I like those players, but not a good fit if we want to improve this season. Although, I do like the fact that Mighty Mouse is an experienced vet and extremely quick in the open court, he's just not what we need in a halfcourt situation should it come down to games where nobody is shooting high % enough to make the most of possessions. So what we get is a point guard that will probably get posted up more than usual than the rest of our guards and he's even less unselfish and able to set guys up than Earl Boykins. I'd rather have Boykins as backup. Then with Ratliff, the story with him is he's always injured. Maybe the guy should retire. I wouldn't want to waive Croshere or CJ Watson for him, not if both those guys can play right now and they are more helpful in a halfcourt situation. Ratliff can rebound and block shots, but he's probably not the same player that I'm thinking of back when he was the guy known for leading the league in blocked shots and getting lots of offensive rebounds. Otherwise, he'd be a very good backup to Biedrins who pretty much does the same thing. It's like another big name was Steve Francis, but now it's like nobody really wants him because he's not the same player and he's frequently injured and he's the turnover king. If the body can't go and they really weren't an efficient player to begin with, it's not going to help us. We need guys who go 3/5, 1 turnover or less + intangibles to back up our core to make up for Baron, AH and Sjax's streaky play.
Its getting like baseball where everyone falls in love with the big name reminiscing about the glory days when they are washed up. "Man, we can get Jose Canseco.....Um its not 1989." There is a reason a mediocre team like the Grizzlies cut Stoudamire, he's done. CJ Watson is better than Payton or Stoudamire, right now. Payton will only get by with clutching and grabbing right now. I bet his J is off too. The W's do not need any more leadership, they need guys who can play Nellie's system and produce while the starters sit out. Webber can contribute because he passes and is big enough to just get rebounds by being near the basket. Plus, I think he's motivated to give something back to the W's to make up for the bad parting. Its not for the $$, that's for sure. The W's know they can win without him so its not like Baron/SJax are going to let him take over.
Just my .02. I like Theo Ratliff because he's a gamer. But not on the Warriors. Sure he's injury prone, but he's gives it all on the court. He would be a horrible fit and the running he would have to do would wear him down in no time. OTOH Webber could help the Warriors because he knows Nellie's game. I thought he would be over it by now, but it would be interesting to hear whether he still has an affinity for the Warriors. He really enjoyed it here (on court) when he played in 1993-94 and he even talked about making a return after he left. But once he got to Sacramento, I thought he forgotten about it. The best case scenario would be is that he helps the Warriors become a better team by playing about 20 mins per game or so, and notching 10 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts. I'm not holding my breath though. I thought they could have gotten someone younger or made a big trade for Pau Gasol. As for Mighty Mouse, I don't like him period. I think the guy's a quitter.
