Odds that Theo Ratliff gets released?

[Goldfield]

I keep reading he might become available, and the Suns are waiting to try and get him.

Although I would love this. What are the real odds of it happening? Seems to good to be true.

 

[hsandhu]

Gambo said this, but he has no idea what he is talking about. Looking at hoopshype.com, portland is not in danger of paying luxury tax, so it would make no sense to waive ratliff and pay him his full salary, when they could pay his full salary but still keep him.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

John Nash said publically right after the terms of the amnesty rule were released that there was no way Ratliff would be waived. I haven't heard anything since that would make me think he will be waived.

 

[George O'Brien]

I know he was out a lot last season with an injury. What is his status?

 

[Ollie]

He didn't play since march w/tear muscles at both shoulders and he's supposed to heal this summer with rest...

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/players/playerpage/6751

 

[Joe Mama]

Gambo is a moron when it comes to the CBA... new or old. It would make absolutely no sense for Portland to cut Ratliff. They are not in any danger of being over the luxury tax threshold next year.

Keep in mind also that these teams really should be well, well over the luxury tax threshold to drop a player. If they are only over by a couple million dollars that's all it will save by releasing the player. Would you release any player, continue to pay the remainder of his big contract, and give him to some other team for the minimum to save a couple million dollars per season? Most of the time that player's contribution to the team is worth more than that.



Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Gambo is a moron when it comes to the CBA... new or old. It would make absolutely no sense for Portland to cut Ratliff. They are not in any danger of being over the luxury tax threshold next year.

Keep in mind also that these teams really should be well, well over the luxury tax threshold to drop a player. If they are only over by a couple million dollars that's all it will save by releasing the player. Would you release any player, continue to pay the remainder of his big contract, and give him to some other team for the minimum to save a couple million dollars per season? Most of the time that player's contribution to the team is worth more than that.

Joe Mama

Wasn't he the source of the "Suns are getting cold feet" rumor. Somehow using the terms "Gambo" and "knowledgable" in the same sentence is hard to accept.

 

[asudevil83]

it makes a little sense for Portland to cut Ratliff. they are in rebuild mode, so ANY big useless contract gone would be a welcome dump for them. if dumping him puts them under the cap by a good amount, then they'd have some space to work with as far as signing free agents.

i just dont know how useless he is to the team....but it doesnt make a lot of sense to have a $12mil man come off the bench for the next three years.

BUT....if they are going to be paying him anyways, then why not just keep him.

 

[George O'Brien]

it makes a little sense for Portland to cut Ratliff. they are in rebuild mode, so ANY big useless contract gone would be a welcome dump for them. if dumping him puts them under the cap by a good amount, then they'd have some space to work with as far as signing free agents.

i just dont know how useless he is to the team....but it doesnt make a lot of sense to have a $12mil man come off the bench for the next three years.

BUT....if they are going to be paying him anyways, then why not just keep him.

The Blazers are not close to the luxury tax. They could unload Ratliff for an expiring contract in a heartbeat, so cutting him has zero chance of happening.

 

[coloradosun]

Portland right now is at 50M in committed salaries right now without the signing of Webster and Jack. This as close the Blazers have come to the cap in a long time, I doubt that they will cut Ratliff. I would like it to happen but the chances are slim and none.

 

[Dustbuster]

This waiver is only applicable to luxury taxes. It doesn't remove a player's salary from the cap at all, and they continue to pay him his full contract. But, they don't have to pay luxury tax on his salary. As things stand, Portland would have no financial advantage of cutting Ratliff, and furthermore, they would lose a player that is still a fairly valuable commodity for nothing and have him go for essentially free to a rival.

I'm thinking we need to be looking to more realistic sources for our backup center.

Lonnie Jones, anyone?