The Rattler!

The last time the Sixers acquired Theo Ratliff, it was the impetus for a run to the finals. Ratliff was traded to the Sixers from the Pistons, along with Aaron McKie, for Jerry Stackhouse. That move broke up probably the worst defensive back court in the history of the NBA and set the tone for the 2001 run to the finals.

This time, it's being reported that Ratliff will sign a 1-year deal with the Sixers for the veteran's minimum, $1.4M. I love the move, basically because I see Ratliff as more than just a warm body. He's a shot-blocking machine who can give the Sixers valuable minutes of defensive intensity at the 5 spot when Dalembert needs a breather.

Ratliff won't be relied upon for much, but he should be able to do what they need when he's called upon. At this point, I think the rotation and probably the roster are both set.

Starting Lineup:

PG: Andre Miller
SG: Andre Iguodala
SF: Thaddeus Young
PF: Elton Brand
C: Samuel Dalembert

Off the Bench:

PG: Lou Williams, Royal Ivey
SG: Willie Green, Kareem Rush
PF: Marreese Speights, Reggie Evans
C: Theo Ratliff

It's ironic that the position the Sixers arguably have the most talent at, small forward, is also the position they have the least depth at. Andre Iguodala will be put to the test as the starting shooting guard, but from the looks of this roster, he's clearly going to still see a decent amount of his minutes at the three.

Just for kicks, check out John Smallwood's column on the Iguodala signing and see if you can pick out the factual error(s).