Warriors sign Turiaf to offer sheet
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) —The Golden State Warriors on Thursday signed Los Angeles Lakers forward and restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf to an offer sheet.
According to a report on the Los Angeles Times’ web site, the Warriors offered a four-year, $17 million contract to Turiaf, who averaged career highs in points (6.6), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (18.7) last season.
The offer comes on the same day the Warriors signed former Los Angeles Clippers swingman Corey Maggette to a reported five-year contract.
The Lakers have seven days to match the offer to Turiaf, but the Times is reporting they are not expected to do so as a result of luxury taxes. Last season, the team paid nearly $5 million in luxury taxes.
The Lakers’ payroll is $75.1 million, with the tax for the 2008-09 campaign being triggered at $71.15 million.
Turiaf, 25, made $770,610 last season, and the Lakers retained the right of first refusal last week by giving him a one-year qualifying offer of $1 million.
According to the Times, the Lakers also have made a $2.6 million qualifying offer for Sasha Vujacic, who averaged 8.1 points and made 45 percent of his 3-pointers last season while playing a backup role behind point guard Derek Fisher.
