Ratliff signs extension with Portland

Ratliff led the league in blocked shots the last two seasons, playing 32 games with Blazers last season after he was acquired from Atlanta with Shareef Abdur-Rahim for Rasheed Wallace.

"We are delighted to have secured the services of Theo Ratliff, perhaps the best defensive player in the NBA, for the foreseeable future," said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. "From the time he arrived in Portland, we identified with Theo’s superior play on the floor and his lifestyle and character off the court as a member of the Portland community."

Ratliff posted 7.3 points with 7.3 rebounds with Portland, but it was defense that the 6-foot-10 center excelled. He established an all-time franchise-best 4.41 blocks a game. In Portland he collected 141 blocked shots. During the 2004 campaign, Ratliff averaged a league-leading 3.61 blocks per game.

"I’m very happy to be here, " said Ratliff. "My family and I decided that this was a city we wanted to stay in. I think we have great talent on this team and we can go far. It’s a great team and a great city."

However, the defense Ratliff supplied came too late as the Trail Blazers failed to make the postseason for the first time in 22 seasons.

The 18th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by Detroit, Ratliff has netted 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.81 blocks in his career with the Pistons, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Portland.