All-Star Theo Ratliff had surgery on his right hip yesterday, and if expected to miss 8-10 weeks according to his surgeon Dr. Mark Phillipon.  The good news is that the area in which there is a chipped bone proved not to be weight-bearing, as first feared.

The Hawks now look to bolster their center position, with Dickey Simpkins waiver last night obviously showing that he is not in their plans.

Jeffrey Denberg of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution lists some of the free agent centers available, including Olden Polynice, Todd Fuller, Keith Closs, Jim McIlvaine, Chris Anstey and Duane Causwell.  

RealGM has an extensive list of available players, renounced or otherwise, at http://www.realgm.com/src_freeagents.php.