Why Minnesota bought out Theo Ratliff
By Ryne Nelson
When I heard the Wolves bought out Theo Ratliff’s contract last night, I wondered why Minnesota did it. Ratliff had an expiring contract worth $11.66 million – the NBA equivalent of liquid gold. So I looked into the buyout to see if I could better understand it from Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s point of view.
The first thing to understand is the buyout does not affect the Wolves’ $11.66 million slot. Ratliff would still be in Minnesota if it did. What the buyout does affect is the money in Taylor’s pocket – $3.7 million to be exact. The $3.7 million is what the Timberwolves owed Ratliff over the 26 remaining games.
The buyout also creates opportunities for more playing time. Releasing Ratliff frees up minutes for Craig Smith and Chris Richard to prove their worth. Until season’s end, the Timberwolves expect to lose games, but that’s almost the point – play the young guys, and gather the ping-pong balls while ye may.
Still one question remains: If the Wolves were going to get rid of Ratliff, couldn’t they have got something in return vis-à-vis a trade? If we’ve learned anything from the Pau Gasol Trade, contracts like Ratliff’s are of absolute value in this day and age.
The Wolves opted not to trade Ratliff because they had what they wanted: salary-cap flexibility. A $11.66 million slot is infinitely more valuable to Minnesota than a (for instance) player with a fat, multi-season contract. Rebuilding teams generally look to horde salary-cap flexibility unless a perfect, young piece to the puzzle falls into their lap. Last month, no available player fit that mold.
Lastly, the Timberwolves showed a nice gesture to a veteran whose days with the team were numbered. Taylor saved $3.7 million and helped Theo out in the process. What more can you ask for?
20 Responses to “Why Minnesota bought out Theo Ratliff”
Feb.29 at 2:09 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
You’d think they could have dealt him to a contender in exchange for other expiring contracts (or ones that could be easily bought out) and at least added a draft pick or another young prospect in the process.
Feb.29 at 2:10 pm
BK says:
Why did they buy him out? ’cause it’s Theo Ratliff
Feb.29 at 2:13 pm
Eboy says:
Nice work, Rynocerous.
Feb.29 at 2:31 pm
Captain America says:
One point missing is that Theo is planning to retire after this season anyway.
Feb.29 at 2:37 pm
Myles Brown says:
Theo must have told them that he wouldn’t resign. His knee was fine, he was the ONLY player on the team who played above average defense in the post and he couldve learned the young’ns a thing or two about it with more time, which is far more valuable than hording losses. Especially since Chris Richard wont play regardless of Theos presence. Besides, the team has what, 12 wins? I wouldnt be worried about lottery position, the balls are either gonna come up in their favor or not at this point. And all this did was ensure Antoine Walker of becoming a locker room cancer.
Feb.29 at 2:55 pm
iLL wiLL says:
Do you think ‘Toine is upset or happy? I mean, can it be that bad that he’s being paid millions of dollars for attending practice, watching games, and expanding his social life in various cities across the United States of America?
Feb.29 at 3:00 pm
Myles Brown says:
Toine was already pretty angry. I was impressed with how he handled the situation early in the season since he was coming from a playoff team to a rebuilding one. He said all the right things and seemed to be a mentor to some of the teams younger players. But as his minutes shrunk, so did his gregarious attitude. He still thinks hes a championship caliber player and wants the opportunities that come along with it, not just the money. The thing is, his play hasnt warranted any more minutes. He can barely move and cant shoot at all anymore. How can he help anyone else?
Feb.29 at 3:03 pm
G Diesel says:
Why is this news??? Theo is irrelevant, the Wolves are irrelevant.
Feb.29 at 3:13 pm
B. Long says:
Somebody must have been praying pretty hard to get Theo out of NBA purgatory or as some call it kevin McHell.
Feb.29 at 3:25 pm
Ryne Nelson says:
Got at it late again!
Russ, I was thinking the same thing as well. But the fact is the Wolves couldn’t find players with expiring contracts to take in return to approach Ratliff’s massive salary. Contracts like Ratliff’s are VERY hard to find, and consequently hard to deal.
Feb.29 at 4:13 pm
andacagar says:
he’ll be a celtic. this is the new trend. i mean why was cassell bought out. there must have been some cash exchanged under the table for these types of buyouts between teams.
Feb.29 at 4:39 pm
Captain America says:
Myles, it pains me to once again set you straight. But where I go. (1) Theo is quoted as saying he was planning to retire after this season, (2) Even Britt acknowledges that Big Al has steadily improved his defense, (3) McHale says the ticks allotted to Theo would now go to Chris Richards and Rhino Craig Smith. I should point out that Richards is fundamentally sound prospect on both ends of the court. As for ‘toine, as long as he has difficulty finding his passport to Cleveland, the bad ‘tude shouldn’t impact the locker room.
Feb.29 at 5:35 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
Buying out Ratliff has nothing to do with giving minutes to the young guns - he had only played 213 minutes this season! That is an average of around 4 minutes a game. Also - they could have easily traded his contract for a good young player. Wouldn’t Memphis have jumped at taking Ratliff, McCants and a future 1st round pick (lottery protected of course) for Pau Gasol and Lowry? There are tons of similar trades that could have happened. The truth is that the T-wolves crapped the bed. again.
Feb.29 at 8:39 pm
dma says:
what would minnesota wanted in exchange for Theo Ratliff’s contract? I’m sure Memphis would have wanted Ratliff and young guys. But I’m 100% positive Minnesota didn’t want anything to do with Pau Gasol, and anyone else that would have been available. But buying him out is insane too, unless Ratliff’s agent threatened to not have any of his guys go to Minnesota ever. But who would ever want to go to Minnesota anyways?
Mar.1 at 12:53 am
hursty says:
not even a trade? at least kwame can give 6 fouls.
Mar.1 at 2:07 am
Rob Paxon says:
I agree with what Russ said in the first contract. You’d think they could have done that. Perhaps the right deal wasn’t there or perhaps they just slept on it. In any case, being that they didn’t move him before the deadline, buying him out now was what was best for both the team (though obviously not short-term on the court) and certainly Theo, who will now join the Dee-troit Pistons.
Mar.1 at 2:08 am
Rob Paxon says:
Myles: I agree that Toine handled the situation right in the beginning, but at the same time he would have been a total shlub if he didn’t. It was purely his fault that Riley moved him, specifically his lack of conditioning.
Mar.1 at 2:15 am
Myles Brown says:
Captain: 1)”McHale said that Ratliff’s agent contacted the Wolves regarding a potential buyout - and not the other way around - because it was made clear to the Wolves that at this point in his career, Ratliff would prefer to be on a team further along than Minnesota. Translation: Ratliff would not be coming back to Minnesota next season, regardless of if the team wanted to resign him.”
2)Al’s defense has improved, because it certainly couldnt have regressed. Hes still no Theo Ratliff.
3)I like Chris Richard. But he’s no Theo Ratliff either and more importantly, he hasnt played a game in God knows how long. Even after two weeks in the D League. And he didnt play when Ratliff was injured before. Whats changed? But thanks for the straightening out.
Mar.1 at 10:42 pm
hursty says:
hes gonna do a chris webber and play for the pistons. from the washington post.
Mar.2 at 10:13 am
flo rida evans says:
‘Because Ratliff gets bought out,not thrown out,homie!’-Theo hisself