Overview
- Alba Berlin, which announced the short-term deal Friday, added Rataj for the rest of the Basketball Bundesliga season.
- The move follows Martynas Echodas' exit, and sporting director Himar Ojeda said the club targeted young German players for the final six regular-season games before the playoffs.
- Though a 2.04-meter wing, Alba plans to use Rataj at center and he said he will play wherever the team needs.
- He could debut in Monday's home game against Telekom Baskets Bonn, with a reunion at ratiopharm Ulm on Wednesday also possible.
- Rataj signed only through season's end to keep a potential NBA path open after college stops at Baylor and Oregon State and earlier spells with Bayern München II and Ulm.