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However, Jackson said Wednesday that Ratliff recently consulted with Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon in Alabama known for specializing in treating knees, elbows and shoulder injuries. Jackson said Ratliff had to "start over in rehab basically" so he could do "some other stuff that perhaps brings him into position so he can play." "[Ratliff] had one minor setback that became an irritant," Jackson said. "His knee is now in a position that we have to monitor it very closely if he's going to play at all" this season. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Injuries, Theo Ratliff 

Lakers backup center Theo Ratliff participated in most of the team's practice Sunday in full-court, half-court and transition drills, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. It was the most practice time for Ratliff since he underwent arthroscopic surgery with a partial meniscectomy on his left knee two months ago. Although he said Ratliff "did pretty good" in Sunday's session, Jackson said he couldn't specify when the 37-year-old veteran would return to full practice, saying it depended on how Ratliff was on Monday. The team had expected Ratliff would return to a full practice soon after the Lakers' two-game trip last week against Dallas and Denver. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Theo Ratliff 

Lakers backup center Theo Ratliff participated in conditioning drills Thursday with the rest of the team's reserves, and is expected to return to full practice after the Lakers' two-game trip against Dallas (Jan. 19) and Denver (Jan 21). The Lakers are expected to have a day off from practice when they return Jan. 22 to Los Angeles, so Ratliff's first full practice since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Nov. 17 could be as early as Jan. 23. "It's good to be able to get out on the floor, run and sprint again," said Ratliff, who described Thursday's session as the most intense since spending the past three weeks working on individual strength training, conditioning and on-court exercises. "It's always a blessing anytime I'm able to step out there." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Injuries, Theo Ratliff 

Would you go if you were invited by the party's host, Ron Artest? And if the event would raise money for kids with mental health problems? That's what was supposed to happen at L.A. Live Wednesday night after the Lakers beat the Clippers at Staples Center. I went. Jamie Foxx didn't. Kobe didn't. Phil didn't. Pau didn't. At least none of them had shown up by the time I left at 1:45 a.m., 15 minutes before the club closed. Ron Artest held the second of his Ring Series parties Wednesday and the only "celebrities" who came were: Artest himself, DJ/rapper Biz Markie, injured Laker Theo Ratliff and Clippers guard Eric Gordon. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Theo Ratliff, Eric Gordon 

Pau Gasol will probably play Friday night against Sacramento despite a sore left hamstring and Theo Ratliff was using an elliptical machine after the Lakers' shoot-around Friday morning. Ratliff has been sidelined since having cartilage removed from his left knee Nov. 16, but he appears to be within two weeks from returning. Despite meager stats before his injury, the Lakers can use him, seeing as how Gasol and Lamar Odom have routinely been logging 40-plus minutes a game without Ratliff and Andrew Bynum in the lineup. "He's moving along quickly," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "We hope it's not so quick that he beats Andrew back ... not that we hope it's not, but it would be kind of ironic, wouldn't it?" Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Pau Gasol, Injuries, Theo Ratliff 

The Lakers still want to add a free-agent center after losing reserve Theo Ratliff for at least three to five more weeks. "We're looking into that and we hope to get something settled this week," Jackson said. Former Dallas center Erick Dampier wants a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season, but the Lakers hope to sign a player for only a week or two. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Erick Dampier, Theo Ratliff 

Los Angeles Lakers reserve center Theo Ratliff underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to perform a partial meniscectomy on his left knee, the team announced Tuesday. The 30-minute procedure was performed by Lakers team orthopaedist Dr. Steve Lomardo in Los Angeles. The timetable for Ratliff's return is set at a minimum of 4-6 weeks. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Theo Ratliff 

"We're not surprised [about Ratliff's surgery]," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said after shootaround at the Bradley Center as his team prepared for Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. "He's had some issues trying to get on the court after back-to-backs or practices and stuff. We knew something was going [on] even though he was game trying to go through it." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Theo Ratliff 

There were logical questions whether center Theo Ratliff, 37, could stay healthy enough to help the Lakers this season, even in limited duty. So far, the answer has been pretty much no. Ratliff will certainly not help in the immediate future after he undergoes arthroscopic surgery Tuesday morning to determine the reason for his left knee pain. An MRI on Monday was inconclusive, as was the MRI he’d already had before that. The Lakers don’t know how long Ratliff will be out until they find out what’s wrong and what repair was needed. The fact that the MRI exams have not shown significant damage suggests that Ratliff won’t need anything major done, but the exploratory procedure will clarify that. Starting center Andrew Bynum figures to be back next month, but rookie backup power forward Derrick Caracter has yet to show any staying power as a pro. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Theo Ratliff 

"Obviously, we don't feel that way,'' Ratliff said of Stern's proposed cut. "If (NBA owners) come in with that type of hard line, then nothing is going to get accomplished. I think they know that also.'' Ratliff also scoffed at contraction, an issue Stern brought up last month, although Stern admits not a lot of time will be spent on it. "When you're selling teams for $450 million, a lot of people are looking to get in this league,'' Ratliff said. "So, I mean, the contraction part, it's a stretch. It's a stretch for me. (Stern) said it. So we'll take it for what it's worth.'' FanHouse.com

CBA, David Stern, Theo Ratliff, Owners 

Lakers planning 2 address likely loss of Josh Powell 2 ATL by signing veteran bigTheo Ratliff for one year, $1.3M. Story up soon on NBA.com. Twitter