Hoops Habit
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: 25 Best Players To Play For The 76ers

By Phil Watson

Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General view of the Wells Fargo Center during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons won107-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General view of the Wells Fargo Center during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons won107-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 26
Next
29 Jan 2001: Theo Ratliff #42 of Philadelphia 76ers hangs on the rim during the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Raptors defeated the 76ers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Robert Skeoch /Allsport
29 Jan 2001: Theo Ratliff #42 of Philadelphia 76ers hangs on the rim during the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Raptors defeated the 76ers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Robert Skeoch /Allsport /

93. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Detroit Pistons, Dec. 18, 1997.. C-PF. . Theo Ratliff. 19. player

Theo Ratliff was a raw project as a big man when he was acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers in a massive trade with the Detroit Pistons in December 1997.

The Sixers got Ratliff along with Aaron McKie and a first-round pick in 2003 in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, Eric Montross and a second-round selection in 2005.

PHI_19_RATLIFF
PHI_19_RATLIFF /

Ratliff became an All-Star in 2001 and was an All-Defensive pick in 1998-99, leading the NBA in blocks in 2000-01, finishing third in 1998-99 and fourth in both 1997-98 and 1999-2000.

But by the time the 76ers played in the 2001 NBA Finals, Ratliff was gone.

Out with an injured hand that caused him to miss the All-Star Game, Ratliff was traded with Toni Kukoc, Nazr Mohammed and Pepe Sanchez to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2001 in exchange for Dikembe Mutombo and Roshown McLeod.

He returned to Philadelphia as a free agent in August 2008 and played one more season before leaving to sign with the San Antonio Spurs in July 2009.

In parts of five seasons with the 76ers, Ratliff averaged 10 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 29.4 minutes per game, shooting .498/—/.736.

Selected 18th overall out of Wyoming by Detroit in the 1995 NBA Draft, Ratliff’s NBA adventure was long and winding.

While with the Hawks, he led the league in blocks in 2002-03. He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in February 2004, leading the NBA in blocks again in 2003-04 while also being named All-Defensive that season.

He was dealt to the Boston Celtics in June 2006 and was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2007 before being waived in February 2008. Five days later, he returned to the Pistons as a free agent.

In February 2010, Ratliff was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats and he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2010. Unsigned in the summer of 2011, Ratliff retired.

He is 19th in NBA history with 1,968 blocked shots and 13th with an average of 2.4 blocks per game.

Next: The Professor Held Classes In Philly