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Turiaf Headed to Warriors?
07.09.08
Lakers’ restricted free-agent forward, Ronny Turiaf has agreed to a reported 4-year $17 million deal with the Golden State Warriors today. The Lakers now have seven days to match the offer.
Turiaf agreed to the contract a little more than a week after the Lakers extended him a qualifying offer of around $1 million. Turiaf had his best season as pro averaging 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in nearly 19 minutes per game last year.
Should Turiaf depart, the Lakers will undoubtedly be looking for another big body up front to replace the team’s most-emotional player. Journeyman forward Kurt Thomas’ name has come up as someone who could replace Turiaf, with not nearly the same price tag.
Turiaf’s deal also clouds Sasha Vujacic‘s return to the Lakers, as he will probably command even more money than the French-born forward. He may get mid-level exception offers, which is around $5.8 million, from other teams. It is unknown if the Lakers would use their exception to keep him.
While Lakers’ GM Mitch Kupchak has repeatedly said he very much wants to keep both Vujacic and Turiaf in purple and gold, the Lakers are already over the salary cap, and owner Dr. Jerry Buss does not like paying the league luxury tax for exceeding it. So it remains to seen what happens with both players, and if the Lakers will match Turiaf’s deal with the Warriors.
Stay tuned.
Lakers New Look Wins Preseason Opener
10.08.03
The Los Angeles Lakers, and their new cast of players, including Karl Malone and Gary Payton, scored an easy 107-89 win over the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night in Hawaii, in both teams’ exhibition opener.
A noticeably slimmer and quicker Shaquille O’Neal scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 18 minutes, and Payton added 12 points and seven assists as the Lakers coasted to victory. O’Neal was particularly active on the defensive end, blocking two shots, including a devasting swat of a Mike Dunleavy jump shot in the third quarter.
Kobe Bryant took part in the team’s pre-game shootaround, but is not expected to play in either of the two games in Hawaii. Bryant is scheduled to fly out today (Wednesday) to Colorado for his court proceedings on Thursday. Coach Phil Jackson believes the All-Star guard will be able to play next Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns in San Diego.
Slava Medvedenko and Jannero energized the Lakers bench, which looks to be vastly improved from last season. Both players scored 14 points while combining to hit 13 of 20 shots from the field.
In his first game for the purple and gold, Malone scored seven points and had three rebounds in only 22 minutes. Derek Fisher chipped in with 10 points, including a perfect 2-2 from 3-point land.
Jason Richardson led the Warriors with 20 points, and former Detroit Piston Clifford Robinson added 15.
The two teams meet again tonight in Honolulu. Game time is 11:00 PM Pacific Time.
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