Clippers, Ronny Turiaf agree to a deal

[mkwest]

The Clippers and free-agent Ronny Turiaf have agreed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract worth $1.146 million, said NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Turiaf, a 6-10, 245-pounder, will be a backup power forward and center for the Clippers.

He becomes the fifth big man for the Clippers – behind starters DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and reserves Lamar Odom and Ryan Hollins – the 13th player on the roster.

Turiaf played his first three NBA seasons with the Lakers.

He played for the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat last season.

Turiaf played in 12 playoff games with the NBA champion Heat, seven as a starter.

He averaged 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.1 minutes in the postseason with the Heat.

Brad Turner, LA Times

[og15]

FG from 16-23
2007: 31/64 (48%)
2008: 52/126 (41%)
2009: 47/134 (35%)

Didn't take enough shots in other season for it to matter, but ideally, he can hit a 16-23 foot jumper better than any big the team had last year, though of course Odom is better.

[mkwest]

I thought he didn't want to re-sign with the Heat due to him wanting more playing time. Then again, I guess if LeBron plays more PF next season, then there would be less minutes for Turiaf there than there would have been during the 2011/12 season.

Hustle guy, decent shotblocker, great teammate and locker room presence. It's not a bad pick-up in my eyes.

og, it's nice to know that he has been capable of knocking down the mid-range. I hope that he can get his FT% back up though. In 2009, he shot 79%. Since then he's been under 63%.

[mj_shoefanatic]

We have a solid bigman rotation now.

Great pickup!

[RiversideClips]

That's all we could get, Ronny "have suitcase,will travel" Turiaf? Not loving this at all!

[LOJ]

The guy does what he has to do to help the team win. I like it, he should get minutes over Hollins.

I hope DJ can learn something from watching how Turiaf gets good position on defense. The guy doesn't have many tools, but with his limited capabilities is a good defensive big.

[og15]

That's all we could get, Ronny "have suitcase,will travel" Turiaf? Not loving this at all!

Your expectations are too high for minimum contract end of bench players. Minutes and money just aren't super attractive in that role.

[seoulman]

I'm a Lakers fan but I have to admit that the Clippers have made some amazing moves in the last 12 months. You start with Chris Paul, then get guys like Butler, Billups, Odom, Crawford, Hill, and Turiaf. My goodness! Obviously, I don't root for you guys to be better than the Lakers, but I can't help but root for you guys otherwise. It's gonna be great rooting for an All-LA Western Conference Finals.

By the way, Turiaf is a great pick up! I so badly miss the energy he brought to the court. Heck, he even brought energy while sitting on the bench just cheering his teammates on.

[illastrate]

That's all we could get, Ronny "have suitcase,will travel" Turiaf? Not loving this at all!

Because we could've gotten guys like Kirilenko for the minimum, right? Get real. Turiaf is a 10th man at best. You get what you pay for at that point.

I'm a Lakers fan but I have to admit that the Clippers have made some amazing moves in the last 12 months. You start with Chris Paul, then get guys like Butler, Billups, Odom, Crawford, Hill, and Turiaf. My goodness! Obviously, I don't root for you guys to be better than the Lakers, but I can't help but root for you guys otherwise. It's gonna be great rooting for an All-LA Western Conference Finals.

By the way, Turiaf is a great pick up! I so badly miss the energy he brought to the court. Heck, he even brought energy while sitting on the bench just cheering his teammates on.

Appreciate the kind words. Nothing would be more satisfying than to see a LAC/LAL conference finals.

[BennyBeFly]

That's all we could get, Ronny "have suitcase,will travel" Turiaf? Not loving this at all!

Your expectations are too high for minimum contract end of bench players. Minutes and money just aren't super attractive in that role.

Thinking the same thing. That's a solid pickup for a vet min big man only to get about 10-15min a game.

[RiversideClips]

I have never been a fan of Turiaf's, not even at Gonzaga. I understand what I am areading that a Million Dollars only gets you a 10th Rotational Player, I would rather have gone for Darko or waited until the start of the season to see who's available. Is his contract guaranteed?
I hope he proves me wrong for the Clipper's sake

[og15]

Last I read was that Darko doesn't care about money because he got amnestied, but wants a place where he can get minutes. I don't doubt the Clippers contacted him, but I doubt they reached a sweet spot for him and his agent in terms of playing time. It's just hard to sell players on the role of "we have a starter minute PF, a high 20 's+ min C, and a 6th man caliber backup big. Anything that is left you battle out with our other big".

Not the most exciting scenario.

[illastrate]

Last I read was that Darko doesn't care about money because he got amnestied, but wants a place where he can get minutes. I don't doubt the Clippers contacted him, but I doubt they reached a sweet spot for him and his agent in terms of playing time. It's just hard to sell players on the role of "we have a starter minute PF, a high 20 's+ min C, and a 6th man caliber backup big. Anything that is left you battle out with our other big".

Not the most exciting scenario.

Exactly. I mean, K-Mart was complaining about his mins and he avg 22 mpg. Basically, Clips needed bigs who were willing to come in and contribute when called upon. Hollins and Turiaf were the type of guys you'd expect a team to pick up for the end of the bench.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I have to say I like the off season signings we've made. Hollins and Turiaf are good cheap pickups. I'm glad we finally added some size on the bench.

[mike3]

Really liking this pickup. Great hustler and defender, kinda replaces the Martin/Evans role imo.

A great pickup, hopefully can help DJ.

[mkwest]

CLIPPERS SIGN FREE AGENT RONNY TURIAF
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7/27/2012



The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent forward Ronny Turiaf. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.



A seven-year NBA veteran and native of the Caribbean island of Martinique, Turiaf is currently playing in the 2012 London Olympics for the French National Team. Turiaf, 29, appeared in a total of 17 regular season games last season with the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat. He played in 12 playoff games while helping the Heat to the NBA Championship.



The 6-foot-10 inch Turiaf has appeared in a total of 375 career NBA games, averaging 5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocks while shooting 53 percent from the field in 17.9 minutes. Originally drafted by the Lakers with the 37thoverall selection of the 2005 NBA Draft after a stand-out career at Gonzaga University, Turiaf was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2004-05 and left Gonzaga as the fourth leading scorer in school history.



In the NBA, Turiaf has also played for the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks and grabbed a career-high 4.6 rebounds per game in 2008-09 with the Warriors while starting 26 of the 79 games he appeared in.

Clippers.com

[Cracka2Hi]

Appreciate the kind words. Nothing would be more satisfying than to see a LAC/LAL conference finals.

Only if we win.

[Palma Dutch]

Turiaf is an energy player who'll come in handy off the bench.

[TwentyOne920]

He'll also be bringing "championship experience", even if his only lick of the Heat Finals was playing in Game 5's garbage time.

[TheNewEra]

Turiaf playing big