NBA - Sports Rumors

Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:53 am EDT

With cap problems, Lakers want to keep Turiaf, Vujacic

By Joe Zedalis

Ronny Turiaf

Getty Images

The Lakers are well over the salary cap and cannot sign any big names on other teams, so they hope to retain two of their own players, Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf. Both are restricted free agents, meaning the Los Angeles Lakers can match any offer sheet they sign with another team according to the Los Angeles Times.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak recently said he would call Vujacic's agent immediately after free agency begins at 9 p.m. The Lakers also will try to keep Turiaf but are willing to spend more money to bring back Vujacic, who might receive a payday of close to $5 million a year.

The Lakers will pay almost $5 million in luxury taxes for last season and aren't expected to dip too far into other options if they re-sign Vujacic and Turiaf. The most the team could offer a free agent from another team is the mid-level exception of about $6 million a season.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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474 Comments

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  1. Jason K
    1. Posted by Jason K Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    that's not ronny turiaf in the picture...
  2. spiffy
    2. Posted by spiffy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    get artest!! looks like he's willing to sacrifice money for a championship.
  3. Joseph Roland Carreon
    3. Posted by Joseph Roland Carreon Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    take sheed for lamar
  4. JT
    4. Posted by JT Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:57 pm EDT

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    no hes not, at least not 5 mill a year common now...use you head Faker Fan, C's will repeat......
  5. hoolio
    5. Posted by hoolio Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

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    there's a couple vatos down the street from me who will play for $100 a game and a 40oz of budweiser. think of all the money they can save.
  6. RICKY! 535am
    6. Posted by RICKY! 535am Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    9 yee
  7. Tiger (in the) Woods
    7. Posted by Tiger (in the) Woods Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Rico I know you from any where Hoolio, that's funny pinchi puto. I can see where you got that Idea from since you guys in NYC pay for your Knicks that way, but you guys showed us that's a losing combo it has not worked for you pinchi putos for over 30 years. So you can keep your 40oz and your food stamps, I think we'll be just fine and you'll see us back in the finals Taco boy!!
  8. Very sad
    8. Posted by Very sad Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    Sasha
    When it comes to Sasha, it’s a love hate relationship. Sasha is a wonderful spot shooter and his defense will only get better. Sasha problem is two fold. #1. He can’t penetrate and take it to the RIM. #2. Sasha love to dribble to his left and pull up and shoot the ball. The problem here is that the ball (every time), just hits the rim or he shoots an air ball. With no one in his face, he will hit the three all day long. That said, I believe you all agree and Sasha knows what he needs to work on. Laker fan for life.
  9. Edwin
    9. Posted by Edwin Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    We've already chased this rabbit. Try a subject that is important to everyone.
  10. jaffe
    10. Posted by jaffe Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    sasha is the typical european...defense is optional...and the option is never 2 play it...
  11. mark i
    11. Posted by mark i Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

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    I like the Machine a lot, but even as a Lakers fan I'm not in love with the guy's game. If he wants more money than he's worth, let him walk. He's Gordon Giricek with an itchier trigger finger--that's not exactly a $5 million dollar asset and to be realistic, there are probably 20 G/Fs in the NBDL you could give the minimum to who could run around the perimeter and shoot every time they touch the ball regardless of positioning.
    By all means keep Turiaf, who's one of the only 3 guys on the team who knows how to play defense. If they truly value their chances for a title, why would they favor Sasha over Ronny?
  12. Hector T
    12. Posted by Hector T Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Rico- Can they play defense?
    And Mia L., yes babe that was me, so see you around my yacht?
    I think that LA will be able to find someone (Ron Artest?) out there "Who takes a cut to play for a ring" game that we had a few years ago with Mailman and Glove, Lakers 4 LIFE!
  13. rick james
    13. Posted by rick james Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    sasha got way better this year and will get better fasho for next year. he is a definite need for spreading the floor. ronny is physical and we need him to get boards off the bench and bang up the other teams secondary. and with bynym back, we can save that 6 mill. we good enough without any additions. wouldnt mind trading lamar for a stronger and more confident offensive and defensive minded player..or at least someone with consistancy..
  14. Nomaan A
    14. Posted by Nomaan A Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    keep both and trade away mihm and and soome scrubs to get cap space and sign artest
  15. misterio
    15. Posted by misterio Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    Drop odom..and replace it with ron artest...
    trade mihm and radmanovic for mike miller...
    and trade walton and drop dj mbenga and ira newble...take raja bell from the suns...
    dis will have the lakers with a deep offense and defense..in sf position in sg position and pg position...
    make andrew plays pf and pau with center...so that it should have a balance line up..
  16. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    16. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    It won't matter who they keep. As long as Kobe is on the team without Shaq there will not be a championship in LA.
  17. KobeBrokeMyAnklesOnCourt
    17. Posted by KobeBrokeMyAnklesOnCourt Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:09 pm EDT

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    Trade: Mihm, Walton, Mbenga, Newble, and Odom
    Keep: Turiaf and Sasha (The got a taste of the NBA this year and can only get better for 08-09)
    Acquire: Artest or Bell
    These guys are defensive players with a consistent offensive mindset. Lakers need to bulk up on D. Lakers are a powerful offensive machine as they proved on several games. They almost came back from a 20+ deficit against Boston and they are considered to be the best defensive team in the NBA. Boston has strong D and average offense. Lakers have excellent offense and below average D. We need D.
  18. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    18. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    #21......Did you just say the Celtics have average offense? HAHAHAHAHAHA
    Did you watch basketball this year? They have Pierce, KG, and Allen. All of which can go off for 25+ at any time.
  19. SoCalSprtzFan ( REAL DYNASTYS THREE-PEAT*** )
    19. Posted by SoCalSprtzFan ( REAL DYNASTYS THREE-PEAT*** ) Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

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    It won't matter who they keep. As long as Kobe is on the team without Shaq there will not be a championship in LA. rstealerLEBRONfan posted on Monday, Jun 30, 2008 10:29 am EDT
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This guy is sucha hater... it's to obvious, leave the blogs to the fans... Lakers are tthe winningest franchise in the game. KB24MVP will get his 4th ring next year.. LeBron will be traded after another early playoff exit. Proving he's over-rated. Even Craig Ehlo led the Cavs to the finals once... where's he now?
  20. andre
    20. Posted by andre Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    why is stephen graham in this picture?
  21. .
    21. Posted by . Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    No need to trade anyone..... Keep Lamar get Artest for 6 Mil, and Make Lamar a 6th Man. Add Bynum And Artest to the Starting Line up, D is Improved Greatly and so is the scoring.....
  22. flobert
    22. Posted by flobert Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    # 21 make sense,get artest and posey for all them loser and dead weight lakers have !
  23. artv
    23. Posted by artv Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! The Lakers can get the right player/s by way of trade or mid-level signing but in the end it will still be Kobe. His credo "Take Over the Game" will be the Lakers doom. "Gimme the ball, and get out of the way". Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!
  24. hcdouglass
    24. Posted by hcdouglass Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    The Lakers need to get a lot better post play than they had this year. Bynum may be the answer. No All-Star free agent would want to join Kobe's team would they? Everyone talks about Artest, Artest would punch Kobe out if Kobe had the guts to yell at him like he does all the current players.

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