NBA - Sports Rumors

Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:57 am EDT

Lakers make offers to Vujacic, Turiaf

By Joe Zedalis

Ronny Turiaf

Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers started their pursuit of Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf when free agency began Monday night, with General Manager Mitch Kupchak lobbing phone calls to representatives for both restricted free agents. Neither player agreed to terms with the Lakers as of late Monday night, though the team could match any offer from another team.

Earlier Monday, they established right of first refusal by giving qualifying one-year offers to Vujacic ($2.6 million for next season) and Turiaf ($1 million).

If the Lakers do not sign Vujacic, they will explore other options. The most they could offer a free agent would be the mid-level exception of about $6 million a year for up to five years. Vujacic, 24, recently completed his fourth, and best, season with the Lakers, averaging 8.8 points in 72 regular-season games while shooting 43.7% from three-point range — all career bests.

Turiaf, 25, averaged career-bests of 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in his third season with the Lakers but was not a big factor in the playoffs, slipping to averages of only two points and 1.4 rebounds in 19 games. His playing time was also cut from 18.7 minutes a game in the regular season to 9.8 minutes a game in the playoffs.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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65 Comments

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  1. jd
    1. Posted by jd Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Good move both were pvital players for the Lakers and keeping them is keep. Dumping a few others like Aziza, Walton and a couple of others would be good moves for them
  2. Claude M
    2. Posted by Claude M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    I would offer these players small contracts, because in reality their time could be cut if we do get a shooter for the midlevel exception. I would love to have them back, but other teams will probably offer them a lot of moeny to start, and both can be starters, especially in the east. Oh well...LAKER BALL BABY!
  3. lawrence
    3. Posted by lawrence Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    Keep Ariza and get rid of Walton, Newble, Mbenga, Mimh, Sasha and get Baron Davis
  4. jedi master
    4. Posted by jedi master Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

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    dump Ariza? i would prefer to dump Radmanovic and Walton. i think Mbenga and Newble won't be returning to the Lake Show next season. Lakers could only offer Mid-level Exception for Baron Davis. if he's willing, wow. nice one. but it's unlikely he'll accept it.
  5. alex m
    5. Posted by alex m Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    is that a picture of sasha and turiaf infused? nah.....needs more hair
  6. Matt A
    6. Posted by Matt A Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:38 pm EDT

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    Go Lakers!
  7. rick james
    7. Posted by rick james Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    keep ariza for the defense. and keep radman too. he needs to work on his D, but he spreads the floor out pretty well. and you cant totally dismiss the progress he made this year. if you wanna get rid of anyone, get rid of mihm, the guy who's taking up cap and bench space.
  8. alvarezart
    8. Posted by alvarezart Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    this article talking about Vujacic and Turiaf why is there a picture of some other player at the top
  9. c-money
    9. Posted by c-money Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    Ronny Turiaf that guy needs to leave the lakers and go to a team the he could start on like the minnesota! trade madson back to the lakers for him
  10. Jollibee
    10. Posted by Jollibee Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:17 am EDT

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    they already know the system. so its not hard for them to train. we'll see what would happen next season
  11. drookane
    11. Posted by drookane Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    hahahaha you guys read my mind.. who is that guy?
  12. Laker Lover
    12. Posted by Laker Lover Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    I think that Sasha and Walton should be traded because they have had their chance at being better players especially this last season but they didnt they failed... yeah Sasha improved and every now and then he would make important shots but do you really think hes gona do better in the next few years... Seriously you have someone like Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher on your team and you still are no good for the team... get outta here... I mean even Andrew Bynum was doing way way better than Sasha, Mihm, Walton, Rodmanavic all put together... I think that we should say bye bye to Sasha, Walton, and Mihm... btw Lamar Odom is the man.. no matter wat anyone says... he has been a great contribution to the Lakers this past season... so leave the poor guy alone...
  13. optimus b
    13. Posted by optimus b Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Get rid of WALTON ,FARMAR and MIHM trade VLADRAD
  14. Boston3Party
    14. Posted by Boston3Party Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:41 pm EDT

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    Keep Shasha and Macaronny and still be 2 soft to win a championship. Boston gonna repeat anyways.
    Learn to play DEFENCE!!!!!
  15. Claude M
    15. Posted by Claude M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    Keep Shasha and Macaronny and still be 2 soft to win a championship. Boston gonna repeat anyways.
    Learn to play DEFENCE!!!!! Boston3Party posted on Tuesday, Jul 1, 2008 12:34 pm EDT
    Learn to spell DEFENSE! Don't count your chickens before they hatch because the celts have a long way to go before they can win another championship. LAKER BALL BABY!
  16. Rick A
    16. Posted by Rick A Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    Sasha and Turiaf will be journeymen at best, so don't sign them to long term deals or big paydays. Baron Davis would be a nice acquisition in a sign and trade involving Odom, but I don't know if the money works. Walton has had enough time to prove himself, but he is a role player at best. Certainly not what we expected coming out of college.
  17. carlos d
    17. Posted by carlos d Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    The Lakers already have their starting five in tact. I think pursuing these 2 guys is fine. They both add energy that is needed from bench players. Remember all we are looking for is bench players now. That is unless Kobe,Odom,Bynum,Gasol and Fisher aren't good enough.
    By the way #15 did you get your name from that espn commercial. Why didn't you go with the three amigos. Go Lakers. No way Boston repeats.
  18. klausey
    18. Posted by klausey Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    What does Joey Grahm (pictured) have to do with this story?
  19. RIP BREEZY
    19. Posted by RIP BREEZY Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:57 pm EDT

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    Now they should go get posey with the mid-level
  20. Nick
    20. Posted by Nick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    Vujacic is streaky and a liability on defense--so is Radman. Get rid of them both. Ariza is money. I don't know about Turiaf.
    Walton is terrible.
    Basically the Lakers need to get rid of all of their white guys except Farmar. Wait, he's not really white. No wonder he's good.
  21. kingdomdriven
    21. Posted by kingdomdriven Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    Lakers need Alonzo Mourning
  22. gravedigga
    22. Posted by gravedigga Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    How dare you insult Machine
  23. Geraldine W
    23. Posted by Geraldine W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    Turiaf should be kept, but keeping Sasha, Walton and Ramonavic wouold bolw any chances they have of winning a championship. Face it, they will not win with all those white boys on a team!!!!!
  24. upinsmoke2001
    24. Posted by upinsmoke2001 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:28 pm EDT

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    No matter who comes, who goes, or who stays.....the Lakers better get their....(ISH) together or they ain't winning any championships any time soon!!!
    GO..................LAKERS!!!!
  25. Regis V
    25. Posted by Regis V Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    Get rid of everybody and sign everyone else..... You armchair GM's are something else. The only reason the Lakers were as good as they were this season was because of player development. Young guys getting the coaching and support they needed to flourish. I like the prospect of establishing a dynasty over the next several years. Just like the 80's when the Lakers would sign that 1 extra veteran every year to keep them poised for success. As horrible as you all think the Lakers are they went to the NBA Finals and lost to a very hungry veteran team who may very well look like the Miami Heat in a couple of seasons while the Lakers will just be reaching their prime. Have faith Laker minions.

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