Turiaf agrees to deal with Warriors
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Purple, Gold and Blue is back this week, and we'll talk about the Ronny situation, and also the status of Sasha Vujacic (and probably the EB signing, as well). 11 a.m., clicking either the show widget on the side of the page or going to our show window at NowLive.com.
Broderick Turner of the Riverside Press-Enterprise is reporting that Ronny Turiaf has agreed to a four-year, $17-million offer sheet from the Golden State Warriors. As Turiaf is a restricted free agent, assuming he does in fact accept the deal the Lakers would have seven days to match it. I've always been terrible at estimating how much a guy will get on the open market, especially a player like Turiaf whose value can be difficult to quantify in dollar figures (although apparently it's somewhere around four years, $17 million). To me, this deal is at the upper end of what I thought Ronny would get, and it'll be interesting to see whether the Lakers, given their luxury tax situation and the desire to bring in a guy like James Posey with the mid-level exception, will match.
Initial Reaction: Turiaf, though an inspiring person, is a luxury for this group assuming Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm are healthy and able to play. He's undoubtedly a great guy to have around, and they won't find anyone on the open market to replace his attitude. They might, though, be able to replace his production at a far cheaper price. It's not my money, so I'd just as soon they match (take the guy you have rather than worry about finding a replacement that may or may not be better). I don't think it would become an albatross contract, weighing them down. Four mil isn't too bad a number to move if need be, and Turiaf's work ethic and size mean he'll probably always have suitors. But given that I don't write the checks, it's an easy thing for me to say.
My guess is they'll pass on the offer. Turiaf may be a $4-million player on paper, but in their current economic situation and the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax penalty they're looking at, he'd amount to an $8-million backup -- on some nights, a very deep backup -- for L.A. That's pretty steep. Good for Ronny, though. He certainly earned the deal. Plenty more on this to come as it develops.
BK
stephen jackson, maggette and no one else?
SON? are you forgetting about monta ellis?
Posted by: Dubs In Yo Eye | July 09, 2008 at 09:38 PM
I'm disappointed that Ronny would ditch the team that saw him through his surgery (when it easily could've dumped him), took him to the Finals, and has hopes of contending for years to come...for the Warriors, Oakland, and some extra change.
I believe very few of these players when they say they're about winning. Right.
No more Vlad Rad or Luke. Please, please, please.
Posted by: Janet | July 09, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Aren't Ellis and Biedrens still RFA's?
Wouldn't count on them being there yet.
Posted by: kobesgame | July 09, 2008 at 10:06 PM
If you checked out Ronny's "Before the BIgs" segment on FSN, then you will know why he has to take this offer. Championship or take care your family?? If you love your family like Ronny does, then the latter prevails. Go on Ronny! Take care of business. See ya in the playoffs?!
Posted by: FES | July 10, 2008 at 10:44 AM
If you checked out Ronny's "Before the BIgs" segment on FSN, then you will know why he has to take this offer. Championship or take care your family?? If you love your family like Ronny does, then the latter prevails. Go on Ronny! Take care of business. See ya in the playoffs?!
EXACTLY! GO RONNIE DO WHAT You need to do! He proved him self worthy of a increase. Don’t be saying he’s not about winning he was the reason why many times the Lakers prevailed even on the bench! you cant take away what he gave LOS ANGELES. And for the record he was cheering harder than 90 % of LAKERS FANS! LA FANS NEED SOME REAL HEART or Need to let the real fans to the games after this year I could never remember such weak fans AT the STAPPLES center it was very frustrating!
Posted by: NickEspi12 | July 10, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Match it, then trade him. Ronny owes us. The Laker's gave him heart surgery and gave him a chance to show his skills...
Posted by: Edward | July 10, 2008 at 12:31 PM
In my own book if you earn more than 720,000 a year which is 60,000 a month you're prosperous enough to afford a comfortable way of life. No soldier or fire fighter have earned that much yet they too risked their lives. I would not go to this direction if you did not comment. Again, let me clarify that it is just my way of thinking which may be weird to others. VMan and others questioned the loyalty of a player. Well, all of us here have developed our own agenda, our own beliefs and inferences. In my book, if you earned 2M just playing basketball, still not happy with it, I find that narcissistic b/c there a hundred million people living below your income strata and a billion more on poverty level.
Benjamin, it is not bad nor unethical. It is just me and not referred to any individual. If it happens to describe some players, then it is just a coincidence.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 09, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Edwin,
I actually totally agree. I think there's a problem with the American ethos.
I see major problems with the capitalist system. Many capitalist proponents only read Adam Smith's first section of The Wealth of Nations completely disregarding the second. The second section goes into great detail how capitalism will unfairly leave some citizens behind and how the government will be necessary to fix capitalism's excesses. I took college level econ in high school and I was not taught about Adam Smith's second section, only that theoretical curves create fairness and efficiencies. I was stunned when I came across the second section later. It's possible people were more morally driven back then as they felt G-d gave them their thoughts.
That said, I think because money is such a useful and liquid medium of exchange that you owe it to yourself to get the maximum you can from the NBA if you're a player. If you invest well (which most NBA players don't), you can secure the futures of successive generations of your family.
Be a Magic Johnson and not a Latrell Spreewell, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, or even Kareem Abdul-Jabar.
As much as Ray Allen bugs me, I really respect him for making it a point to talk to his teammates about long-term financial planning. It's such a rarity in the NBA.
The average NBA player is broke in like 5-10 years after retirement. It's shameful. And it turns what could be conservative and wise investing strategy in maximizing their contracts into BS greed and narcissism.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 10, 2008 at 12:55 PM
LakerTom,
You bring up an interesting point about America's moral sense as demonstrated by our laws and how we carry them out.
I'm pretty open-minded and have thought a lot about just about any law I hear about. I'm completely against consenting adults having any transaction between them being illegal. I assume consent means informed consent and the mental capacity (and sanity) to understand the seriousness of any decision.
I still feel funny about non-adults being prostitutes. I think the definition of adults varies from place to place. As for kiddie porn being a top 10 most wanted deal, I think it may have had something to do with related child sex slavery rings. An LAPD officer told me much of the reason they involve themself in vice is because of the other, more serious, criminal activities involved.
As childhood sex abuse just ruins people's psyches and prevents their future healthy sexual relationships unless serious psychotherapeutic intervention occurs, I can see a possible justification for the a top 10 most wanted tag for the Auerbach.
You had a pretty good sense he was a putz. The FBI may not have known and probably were using their contextual filters to hunt him down in case he was involved in something more serious.
If the FBI wanted him just for kiddie porn, especially if it only involved a foreign prostitutte, that would be a poor choice of priorities.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 10, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Benjamin,
Thanks for the reminder. I had missed your response. Probably good that we’re having this discussion on a old thread so we don’t offend anybody since this is a Lakers blog and there is no subject this is more explosive than child pornography or molestation.
I recently rented an excellent movie on DVD called the Flock starring Richard Gere as a probation officer whose “flock” were the registered sex offenders in that area of the state. Gere’s character was retiring and trying to get his replacement to understand that sexual deviants and perverts do NOT change their spots. Ever! While I am pretty far left on most subjects, I would just lock these people up forever and throw away the key.
Like you, I also would not make sex for sale between consenting adults a crime. When you talk about kids, however, the emotional flammability instantly rises. I think we all realize how fragile children’s psyches are and rightly condemn child molestation and/or pornography but drawing the line as to what is a child is often not easy. Especially when the child is in a foreign country and culture with different attitudes towards sex.
How many young men do you personally know who were actually guilty of statutory rape for having sex with a 17-year old girl when they were 18 or 19? The Texas polygamy raids were a perfect example of the public’s possibly overzealous and misguided moral outrage at what they perceived to be child molestation. Was it? I am not so sure.
The issue of underage prostitutes is a difficult issues for us to deal with as Americans. Aside from the obvious condemnation of child sex slavery, sex for hire is often the only opportunity many under-aged young women have to put food on the table for them and their families in some societies. They find the American point of view to be very naïve, condescending, and reflective of America’s Victorian attitude toward Sex.
As for the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List, have you ever looked at who is on that list? It is a list of the 10 most dangerous or 10 most heinous criminals but just a list of the guys who are just everyday criminals that have somehow avoiding being caught for a long time. It’s just a PR joke so the FBI can keep saying they catch the top guys when they don’t
Anyway, that’s my take on a controversial subject. I’ll check back in case you want to respond. Thanks.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 10, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Hey Guys, I am a - eeeew - NorCal native/Warrrior fan living in So Cal. It is refreshing to see your posts are not like those of Warriors fans, who reallllllly hate the Lakers. Now EVERYone hates Kobe, but the rest of the team is actually pretty likeable.
But on to Ronny. This guy (and MIllsap and Landry and Dudley and R. Evans) have KILLED the Warrriors for years. The Warriors have been soft in the middle since Cliff Ray left and these strong, quick hustling PFs always do in the Warriors. Youse guys' problem is that if Buss does not match the Warriors offer sheet, the Lakers may now become that soft-in-the-middle team. Gasol obviously elevated the Lakers from also ran to finalist but without Ronny's energy, shot blocking and strength, the Lakers may not have got that far in the playoffs. Even worse for the Lakers is that Ronny's offer - I believe - is front loaded at $5 mill for the first year. That means Buss pays $10 mill the first year for a #8 or 9 player.
Yes, this may seem like a little gloating (for goodness sake, the Lakers have pushed the Warriors around for years) but really is just my amazement at the Warriors actually playing their cards well for once.
Posted by: BobPortman | July 11, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Get Ricky Davis!!!!
Posted by: yohoho | July 23, 2008 at 05:21 AM