HoopsHype.com Rumors

Dave McMenamin: Former Lakers Luke Walton, Theo Ratliff & Mo Evans are in Vegas this week participating in a program to develop players into scouts/GMs Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Theo Ratliff, Luke Walton, Maurice Evans 

Amid speculation that connected him to the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls among other teams, Theo Ratliff confirmed Wednesday night that he intends to retire. “I’m retiring,” the 16-year NBA veteran and former all-star said in a text message to The Times. “I’ve had enough of the relocating and being away from the family. My kids are growing up. Daddy needs to be in pocket. My business life has been on full throttle. I am enjoying learning and being a part of the business world.” demopolistimes.com

Theo Ratliff 

Ratliff, a Demopolis native, played his final season in the NBA’s 2010-2011 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Donning the purple and gold of the Lakers put Ratliff on the ninth team of his career and his eighth since 2004. “Right now, I’m not looking to try to do anything,” Ratliff said in a phone interview Thursday morning. “I haven’t spoken to anybody. Right now, I just want to concentrate on my family, my business and getting that part of my life in order. The constant moving around, with the kids, is a problem. It becomes a problem.” Ratliff, who now resides in Atlanta with his wife Christina, is the father of six children. “With six kids, it can wear them down with them trying to move all over the place,” Ratliff said. demopolistimes.com

Theo Ratliff 

While Ratliff does intend to retire, he stopped short of closing the door entirely on his playing career. “I’ve enjoyed my time playing the game,” he said. “I’m not saying that if a position came open later on in the year, I wouldn’t look at the opportunity. I haven’t concentrated on playing. I’ve been in negotiations all summer trying to make sure guys get back to work.” demopolistimes.com

Theo Ratliff 

It remains unclear how the Lakers' roster will look now up through their season opener Christmas Day against the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers have plenty of unsigned players, including Shannon Brown, Devin Ebanks, Derrick Caracter, Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff. They can exercise the so-called amnesty clause by shedding ties with Metta World Peace (three years, $21.5 million) or Luke Walton (two years, $11.46 million). Free agency beginning on Dec. 9 will also contribute to the frantic environment leading to opening day. Still, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak told The Times' Mike Bresnahan that both rookies Darius Morris and Goudelock "probably deserve a chance to be looked at, and [they] have promise." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Shannon Brown, Mitch Kupchak, Derrick Caracter, Devin Ebanks, Theo Ratliff, Luke Walton, Joe Smith, Darius Morris, Metta World Peace 

Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Aaron Gray, Tony Battie and Theo Ratliff also are on the Knicks’ wish list. But in this condensed free-agency period and camp, the club probably will re-sign Jared Jeffries, who knows the system well despite his lack of impact late last season. New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Aaron Gray, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff, Jared Jeffries 

The Knicks have a modest center wish list — considering they only want to offer one-year deals — with Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff and Aaron Gray. New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Aaron Gray, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff 

Ken Berger: In addition to yesterday's union roster, Chris Paul and Theo Ratliff are in the house today. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Chris Paul, CBA, Lockout, Theo Ratliff, NBPA 

Brian Mahoney: Besides Chris Paul, Theo Ratliff has joined the union side today. Economist Kevin Murphy has returned. Cuban stuck around for the owners. Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Chris Paul, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Owners, Kevin Murphy 

David Aldridge: Today's roster, besides usual suspects: owners: Peter Holt, Jim Dolan, Glen Taylor, Mark Cuban. Players: Chris Paul, Theo Ratliff. Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Hornets, Chris Paul, CBA, Mark Cuban, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Owners, Glen Taylor, Peter Holt 

And here's another wrinkle: Two sources in the room agree that the particular players present Tuesday (the list includes Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Theo Ratliff, Maurice Evans, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason Jr., etc.) were particularly strident, more strident than the average player. Garnett, in particular, has been mentioned as among the uncompromising. ESPN.com

Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, CBA, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Kevin Garnett, Maurice Evans 

Ken Berger: Breaking in from wedding coverage: players present today are Fisher, Evans, Mason, Ratliff, Bonner plus Afflalo and BDavis (who left). Twitter

Derek Fisher, CBA, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Baron Davis, Arron Afflalo, Maurice Evans 

Ken Berger: Committee member Theo Ratliff leaves hotel. "Still going," he said. "Be here tomorrow." Twitter

CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA 

Theo Ratliff: The negoiating with the NBA has always been a long process Mr. Hunter and the executive board has the experience and the know how to lead. We battled tested! Not one agent has negoiated a collective bargaining agreement! Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, CBA, Lockout, Theo Ratliff, NBPA 

There are other free-agent centers who could be had for one-year deals that will pique the Knicks' interest -- Tony Battie, ex-Knick veteran Kurt Thomas, who filled in solidly in spots with the Bulls, Joel Pryzbilla, Aaron Gray and ancient Theo Ratliff. New York Post

New York Knicks, Kurt Thomas, Aaron Gray, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff, Joel Przybilla 

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett of the Celtics, among the most vocal players in the room Friday, were driven away in a black SUV with executive committee member Theo Ratliff. In the meeting, Pierce accused the owners of taking a disingenuous stance by disguising their insistence on slashing salaries under the cloak of creating a new system that would allow more teams to be competitive. “Is it more about money or being competitive?” Pierce said to the owners, according to Suns player rep Jared Dudley. “What does this have to do with? If it’s about being competitive, let’s come up with a system we can all be competitive in. If it’s about money, that’s a different story that we’re talking about.” CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Paul Pierce, Jared Dudley, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Kevin Garnett 

As the summer approaches, the threat of a work stoppage looms greater by the day. But, in Ratliff's estimation, proceeding forward with a well-functioning league might not necessarily mean avoiding a stoppage. "As a player, you can't give that up," Ratliff said of guaranteed contracts and soft cap allowances. "If you give it up, you are never going to get it back again. It's going to be a long, hard fight." Detroit Free Press

CBA, Lockout, Theo Ratliff, NBPA 

So you have missed getting some rest during the regular season. Gasol: Maybe I did. There could have been a little more depth, especially if Joe Smith was able contribute to the team. The Theo Ratliff issue was difficult because of his health and where his career is at, but that's another thing. It would have been good for us to have a four-man rotation instead of three, but that's something I don't want to talk about because I don't want to argue with a guy that has been pretty successful - our coach. google.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson, Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith 

Former Piston Theo Ratliff was among a group representing the National Basketball Players Association that donated trucks and supplies to a local church as a way to support communities devastated by tornadoes and storms that have swept through the South. Led by Ratliff -- who now plays for the Lakers and is vice president of the NBPA -- and former player Purvis Short, the NBPA and local charities distributed supplies to more than 200 families at the church Tuesday. "It means the world for me to be able to come back home to Alabama and give back to those who have been affected by this disaster," Ratliff, who is from Demopolis, Ala., said in a release. "Now more than ever, we need to stand together and lend a hand to those who desperately need it. "The devastation here is heartbreaking, but I know firsthand how resilient our communities can be." Detroit Free Press

Theo Ratliff 

But the news isn't so good for Ratliff, who has been sidelined since having cartilage removed from his left knee Nov. 17. Ratliff recently got another opinion on his knee, putting him so far behind schedule that Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said the 6-11 center has to be monitored just to see "if he's going to play at all" the rest of this season. Originally, Ratliff was expected to be out four to six weeks. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Injuries, Theo Ratliff