Ratliff to have back surgery, season likely over
Theo Ratliff, who has played sparingly for the Boston Celtics, said Thursday he will have back surgery that most likely will end his season.
Ratliff, who has a bulging disk in his back, has played only 44 minutes for the Celtics. The surgery is expected to take place in the next two weeks.
"It's just something that has to be done," he said. "I'm getting the same symptoms going down my legs. It hasn't stopped."
"The pain was slight when I first [hurt] it, but it got pretty bad when it came back the second time," he said. "But I want to get it over with, because I'm walking around with the same symptoms."
Ratliff, who appeared in 55 games for the Trail Blazers last season, was dealt to Boston during the 2006 NBA Draft along with Sebastian Telfair for Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz, and the No. 7 pick, who turned out to be Brandon Roy.
Ratliff will earn $11.7 million this season and next season.
"I knew they were talking about it," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said of the surgery. "You kind of knew it was going there anyway."
Source: ESPN.com
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