DETROIT (AP) -The Detroit Pistons are expected to add center Theo Ratliff next week, a person familiar with the upcoming transaction told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal couldn’t yet be finalized, said the move will be made on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Timberwolves requested waivers on Ratliff after reaching agreement on a buyout of his contract.
Ratliff came to Minnesota from Boston in the Kevin Garnett trade last summer and has played in only 10 games. The 34-year-old was relatively productive when he played, but a knee injury kept him on the sideline for 45 games. Ratliff returned to action last week.
He was in the final season of his current contract and scheduled to make more than $11.6 million.
Because he was let go before Saturday’s deadline, he can sign with another team and be eligible for the playoff roster.
The Pistons can use him, too.
Detroit, which has the second-best record in the NBA, has been looking for frontcourt depth since sending center Primoz Brezec to Toronto for guard Juan Dixon last week.
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Ratliff began his NBA career in Detroit, where he played from 1995 until he was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in a December 1997 trade that sent Jerry Stackhouse to the Pistons.
Ratliff later played for Atlanta, Portland and Boston before being traded to Minnesota last summer. He has averaged 8 points and 6.2 rebounds during his career, and 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season.
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