Ronny the Warrior
And we mean that literally. ESPN.com is reporting that the Lakers will not match the four-year, $17-million offer sheet Ronny Turiaf signed with Golden State, meaning he will officially become a Warrior. No official confirmation from El Segundo, but since the report essentially confirms what most have said would happen over the course of the week, I have no reason to question the accuracy. It's a disappointment, for sure, as Turiaf was about as well loved (deservedly so) as a Laker can be, but it's hardly a surprise, either. Given where he's projected to fit in the current rotation, that's a lot of scratch for the Lakers to pony up, especially with the Sasha Vujacic situation yet to play out.
As for Turiaf, he'll almost assuredly get more playing time up in the great north than he would have in L.A., though obviously it's a step down in terms of postseason hopes. I certainly can't begrudge him for accepting the offer. Best of luck from Lakers Blog.
BK
BK
You and your brother are starting to act like Luke Walton!
How? You are starting to believe the hype! boss yourselves.
Posted by: chuck23 | July 21, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Jon K,
"sounds like censorship to me"
Those are the rules of the blog - any blog where there isn't some set of standards will degenerate into a place where 90% of the posts are just name-calling back and forth. The good posters end up leaving, and the blog ends up withering away. I am surprised that you haven't seen that elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with the mild, yes - mild, monitoring that is done here.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 21, 2008 at 07:21 PM
exhelodrvr,
As long as someone isn't cursing at another, I'm okay with it. I mean, the Kamenetsky Brothers can't turn us into adults. We have to manifest that maturity on our own.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 21, 2008 at 09:10 PM
"John in Houston
"But one more time, Artest is an all star."
Once. Heck Brad Miller has been an all star twice. Maybe we should trade LO for him."
Posted by: giantsquid | July 19, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Artest has been a 3-time All-NBA Defensive Team player, Defensive Player of the Year, and has been in the top 4 in Defensive Player of the Year Voting 3 times.
Maybe we should trade Lamar Odom for him.
We need a SF, he is a SF.
All be damned, it's practically a perfect fit.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 19, 2008 at 12:53 PM
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My 2 cents is agreed Artest the player is very good, but Artest the head case creates chemistry problems every where he has played and has not had the lets build team around Arterst the all star because he is a headcase. He will destroy team chemistry and that is when he is playing and not suspended fore his antics.
I would rather take a unselfish versitle role player who creates mis matches than an all star brain wreck.
JLF
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 22, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Given how poorly Mitch handled Kobe/Shaq, I don't have the greatest confidence he will make the best decisions here. He strikes me as a cold business-bot, not a guy that garners my loyalty and affection.
I believe it matters how you treat people in any business. Human capital is the most unique and valuable to any business. We'll see how this situation pans out, but it has me a little concerned.
"Word is talks with the Lakers and Sasha are not going anywhere fast and his camp is growing concerned that the Lakers may not be ready to pony up – Sasha has fired his agent Bill Duffy and is in the process of returning to Rob Pelinka in hopes of jump starting real discussions. Lakers sources say the change in agents basically starts everything over, and that a deal is not out of the question, it simply has to be in the right context and situation."
A deal is not out of the question? What the hell kind of rhetoric is that?
Posted by: Benjamin | July 18, 2008 at 08:40 PM
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I disagree since Kobe and Shaq was not Mitch's problem to deal with. The direct chain of command would have PJ as the first line of management. PJ was responsible for sorting that out. Then if he could not to elevate it to Mitch. Any bets out there that PJ would ever admit he could not handle anything except for the one time he did? Reminder he went to front office and demanded team trade Kobe because he could not and Kobe was uncoachable. Well he partly admitted he couldn't but qualified the admission that nobody could coach Kobe.
Then worse yet PJ played sides and chose Shaq's position over Kobe. Hows that for being above the fray to settle it. Mitch not to blame but PJ is culprit.
Will have to see about Sasha and deal being struck. I think there will be a deal. JMHO.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM
So many debates here but will pass up on except one!
For someone who called out Laker Tom in mentioning Bynum, it is actually you who mentioned him first on this thread!
The rest I will save for another day. Getting late.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 19, 2008 at 01:31 AM
Ooooooh, you got me. You're so good. Buddy, I only was predicting a storm to come. It's a far cry from an attempt to revisit the topic. It was just an attempt to make a half-joke at LakerTom's expense. He knows I like him and appreciate his thoughts because I've been very clear. At this point, don't you think it's hard to say he didn't earn the half-joke? And if I hadn't done it, someone else would have.
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Aw you missed the point as others have. Regardless whether in half jest you still initiated the Bynum thing. And thank you for the props as yes I am soooo good and caught you. Even you modest attempt at sarcasm has a lot of truth to it.
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No worries folks. Ronny will go up north and grow tremendously as a leader and mentor, just like Fish did, then come right back to us
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | July 18, 2008 at 08:49 PM
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Why does he have a daughter with eye cancer too?
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 19, 2008 at 01:33 AM
I'm not really sure what your point here is or if even you know what it is. All analogies break down at some point which is why they're analogies and not identities. I can't help but feel that bringing this up is in bad taste. Also, didn't all Fish's daughter's eye problems happen in Utah?
I really appreciated Vonislav Waferdenko's sentiment. I know a lot of us will miss Ronny and hope he returns. How about you?
Posted by: Benjamin | July 19, 2008 at 03:37 PM
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Wow let me spell it out for you. Listen up as I will type slowly. Fish came back because of an unplanned medical situation with his daughter. There was no intent to go after him other than basically he fell into our laps.
As with Ronny I was making the point that there is no active plan to bring him back unless he falls into our laps. Hence the jab with the medical problem. Keeping up?
Now I have stated many times that I hope the Lakers resign Ronny as he will continue to grow and his contract in 4 years may be considered a bargain. so yes I want him back and never wanted him to leave. $ million per year as opposed to 5 million to Vlade and Luke is atricious. We could have had more flexibility as a team with him in. I would venture to say Ronny is a better back up than Mihm who is on his last year of his contract.
Hope that helps you out a bit.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | July 22, 2008 at 04:41 PM