The early prognosis for basketball standout Ronny Turiaf appears promising.
After more than six hours in open-heart surgery today, doctors at Stanford University Medical Center were able to repair an enlarged aortic root in Turiaf’s heart without having to replace the valve, a hospital official said.
“That’s terrific news,” said Gonzaga University coach Mark Few. “It’s as good as we could have hoped for.”
Although it was too early to predict what kind of recovery the former Gonzaga star could expect, a valve replacement likely would have ended Turiaf’s chances of playing in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers officials, who chose Turiaf in the second round of this year’s NBA draft, had warned that they wouldn’t let Turiaf play for them if his heart valve had to be replaced.
The defect was detected during a physical required by the Lakers as part of his pro contract. The Lakers agreed to pay for the surgery regardless of the outcome.
Aaron Goodwin, the agent for both Gary Payton and Damon Stoudamire, said Wednesday there is mutual interest between his clients and the Lakers and there have been "positive conversations" about one of the veteran guards possibly joining the Lakers.
The Lakers are offering just a two-year deal at $5 million annually. Goodwin said both Payton, who played for LA during the 2003-04 season and turns 37 on Saturday, and Stoudamire, who turns 32 in September and also has talked to Houston, Orlando and Miami, are looking for longer deals.
But Goodwin said both would consider the Lakers because "they are a great organization" -- a surprising possibility for Payton, who had harsh words for them after he was traded to Boston last summer.
The Lakers also have contacted free-agent guard Tyronn Lue, 28, a former Laker.
The Lakers would have just three guards on their roster -- Kobe Bryant, second-year player Sasha Vujacic and rookie Von Wafer -- after agreeing to a trade sending starting point guard Chucky Atkins to Washington. They missed out on Antonio Daniels, who agreed to a deal with the Wizards.
Even if Payton is willing to play for the 2year 5 million contract I wouldnt' want him back. He struggled playing in the triangle system and with Phil back the triangle will be our main offensive system. Plus Payton isnt that good of a three point shooter to begin with. Now Damon Stoudemire (Mighty Mouse) may be small but his ability to penetrate and hit threes more then makes up for it. I also wouldn't mind seeing Lue come back, he's a good defender and already knows the triangle system as he played for us during 01.
Wow I am amazed we would want Payton. I doubt Payton really would want to come back either but hell go wherever he gets paid the most. If only we could combine Payton's size with Stoudamire's speed and shooting ability, then we would have our PG.
LA TIMES: Lee Andrew Bynum has now worn a Laker uniform for two weeks, and when he wasn't surrounded by microphones, TV cameras and autograph-seeking kids, he managed to give the Lakers and their fans a glimpse into the future.
It looked like a mixed bag.
Playing eight games in Long Beach's Summer Pro League, which concluded last week, the Lakers' 6-foot-11, 270-pound top draft choice showed flashes of glorious potential … and all but disappeared during other spans.
"It's not any different from what I expected," Bynum said of his first taste of professional basketball. "I expected it to be tough and it's definitely tough."
And that, of course, was during a summer league that includes precious few players who will make NBA rosters next season.
The Lakers saw what they expected too. In taking Bynum 10th overall with their highest draft selection in 11 years, the team knew it was taking a calculated risk, choosing long-term potential over the temptation of taking a more polished player as a quick fix.
"I think it's gone as good as we can hope, keeping in mind that it's just a summer league," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said after Bynum was held to four points in the team's final game. "We don't want him really playing next year, or the year behind it. Certainly that's not in the plans."
Then whats the point of signing him to a two year contract if you're not gona play him for the next 2 years. I'm sure Kuptchack doesn't have any say of player's playing time, but whats the point of signing a player for two years and you dont' expect him to play at all. FIRE MITCH. There's also rumors that Bynum will be sent down to the NBDL so he can get some major playing time, but I don't see that happening as the Laker's front court is very thing right now with Divac retiring, we're only left with Mihm, Brown and Grant (if he doesnt' get released).
__________________ "Gasol reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas boom boom Pau" - Mark Jackson.
LA TIMES: Lee Andrew Bynum has now worn a Laker uniform for two weeks, and when he wasn't surrounded by microphones, TV cameras and autograph-seeking kids, he managed to give the Lakers and their fans a glimpse into the future.
It looked like a mixed bag.
Playing eight games in Long Beach's Summer Pro League, which concluded last week, the Lakers' 6-foot-11, 270-pound top draft choice showed flashes of glorious potential … and all but disappeared during other spans.
"It's not any different from what I expected," Bynum said of his first taste of professional basketball. "I expected it to be tough and it's definitely tough."
And that, of course, was during a summer league that includes precious few players who will make NBA rosters next season.
The Lakers saw what they expected too. In taking Bynum 10th overall with their highest draft selection in 11 years, the team knew it was taking a calculated risk, choosing long-term potential over the temptation of taking a more polished player as a quick fix.
"I think it's gone as good as we can hope, keeping in mind that it's just a summer league," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said after Bynum was held to four points in the team's final game. "We don't want him really playing next year, or the year behind it. Certainly that's not in the plans."
Then whats the point of signing him to a two year contract if you're not gona play him for the next 2 years. I'm sure Kuptchack doesn't have any say of player's playing time, but whats the point of signing a player for two years and you dont' expect him to play at all. FIRE MITCH. There's also rumors that Bynum will be sent down to the NBDL so he can get some major playing time, but I don't see that happening as the Laker's front court is very thing right now with Divac retiring, we're only left with Mihm, Brown and Grant (if he doesnt' get released).
He has to be signed to a 2 year contract, as per the CBA. The Lakers have options on the 3rd year and the 4th (I think). If he isn't going to play on the NBA level he should go to the NBDL. There is no point for a youngster not to play. I understand they are thin up front, but they can find another veteran to play upfront if they need.
I'd rather see a youngster play 30 minutes in the NBDL then sitting as the 12th man getting 0 minutes a game on the NBA level any day of the week.
__________________ "President Obama's speech on the gulf oil disaster Tuesday night was written at a 10th-grade level, which, according to analysts, may have gone over the heads of many in his audience." - The Dumbing Down Of America Continues...
Good points crew. It still boggles my mind why the Lakers drafted a project in Byum who'll probably be ready in 3-4 years when Phil Jackson's gone. It would've been ok if they used a 2nd round pick on Bynum, but a top 10 pick on a project. Sure Bynum could develop into a nice player in 3-4 years, but the Lakers management has been quoted saying they want to win now and how are they gona win with a project in the making in Bynum? At #10 we could've drafted more nba ready players who are able to step in and contribute right away. Danny Granger who many compared to Pippen or Sean May, undersized p/f like Barley and Jarret Jack who could've stepped in and ran the triangle.
__________________ "Gasol reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas boom boom Pau" - Mark Jackson.
I completely agree. I thought the same exact thing. Even the trade for Brown, which I liked, is really for the future.
Installing and being effecient in the triangle takes a while. By the time the youngsters develop and figure out the triangle, Jackson will most likely be gone and the new coach will implement something completely different.
I'm just a little confused on the direction of the Lakers. They hire a coach to win now, but they are building a team to win in 3-4 years. Jackson is a great coach, but we have never seen him teach young players (for the most part) to become great players. Kobe might be the notable exception. But Jordan and Pippen's growth really happened under Doug Collins. Phil just go the pieces to work with one another. We'll see. Maybe I'm wrong and Phil will be a great teacher. He definetely seems more patient with young role players (Walton, Rush) then Larry Brown is.
__________________ "President Obama's speech on the gulf oil disaster Tuesday night was written at a 10th-grade level, which, according to analysts, may have gone over the heads of many in his audience." - The Dumbing Down Of America Continues...
The only possible sense i can read into this is with the Kwame deal able to be voided after 2 years, that we would have his repalcement on the Roster if needed.
I cant see Grant staying on the roster with the one off exemption for luxury tax, it is a pure business decsion that he has to go.
We are going to be undersized up front. Slav and Cook will likely have to take the majority of playing time up front.
I think we should concnetrate on finding a PG who can hit the 3 at the moment as the main priority, but thr front court is really starting to be a worry
LA TIMES: Lee Andrew Bynum has now worn a Laker uniform for two weeks, and when he wasn't surrounded by microphones, TV cameras and autograph-seeking kids, he managed to give the Lakers and their fans a glimpse into the future.
It looked like a mixed bag.
Playing eight games in Long Beach's Summer Pro League, which concluded last week, the Lakers' 6-foot-11, 270-pound top draft choice showed flashes of glorious potential … and all but disappeared during other spans.
"It's not any different from what I expected," Bynum said of his first taste of professional basketball. "I expected it to be tough and it's definitely tough."
And that, of course, was during a summer league that includes precious few players who will make NBA rosters next season.
The Lakers saw what they expected too. In taking Bynum 10th overall with their highest draft selection in 11 years, the team knew it was taking a calculated risk, choosing long-term potential over the temptation of taking a more polished player as a quick fix.
"I think it's gone as good as we can hope, keeping in mind that it's just a summer league," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said after Bynum was held to four points in the team's final game. "We don't want him really playing next year, or the year behind it. Certainly that's not in the plans."
Then whats the point of signing him to a two year contract if you're not gona play him for the next 2 years. I'm sure Kuptchack doesn't have any say of player's playing time, but whats the point of signing a player for two years and you dont' expect him to play at all. FIRE MITCH. There's also rumors that Bynum will be sent down to the NBDL so he can get some major playing time, but I don't see that happening as the Laker's front court is very thing right now with Divac retiring, we're only left with Mihm, Brown and Grant (if he doesnt' get released).
I have been saying this for a while. Mitch Kupchak is a pretty bad GM. Of course it is possible Buss' son may be a part of this too, as I heard he has taken a more active role with the team now. The Shaq trade made me so mad because I am sure there were better deals out there but they did not want to trade him to the western conference. Hello the Lakers are not exactly contenders for awhile so it does not matter if Shaq is in the west anyways. Get the best deal possible! I have not like his drafts much. The best one was the Cook/Walton draft and all that did was bring us some backups. The Payton deal was garbage because we lost the best player in the deal in Banks because of Payton's refusal to go. Just do not complete the trade. Was it that necessary to get Chris Mihm? Right now the team is Kobe and Odom with the next most talented players a couple of projects and we still have no point guard.
Lakers May Have a Shot at Anderson
Mike Bresnahan
Former Portland Trail Blazer shooting guard Derek Anderson, an unrestricted free agent via the "amnesty" provision in the new labor deal, will meet with the Lakers on Sunday in Los Angeles, his agent said.
Anderson, 31, was waived Tuesday by the Trail Blazers so they could avoid luxury-tax ramifications.
Anderson, who will still be paid $18.8 million over the next two seasons by the Trail Blazers, is seeking a two-year deal with the Lakers worth the full midlevel exception of $5 million a season.
"I think he deserves that," said Anderson's agent, Tony Dutt. "He's high-quality."
The Lakers are open to a two-year deal, but they might not go as high as the full midlevel for Anderson, who has sat out 66 games over the last two seasons, primarily because of back problems. The midlevel exception, used by teams over the salary cap, can be spent entirely on one player or may be broken up and spent on two or three players.
Anderson, 6 feet 5, has averaged 13.1 points and 3.7 assists in an eight-year career with four teams. He averaged a career-best 16.9 points with the Clippers in 1999-2000.
The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves have also shown interest in Anderson.
With no other free agent pg left on the market, I say we go hard after Anderson, I just don't want Atkins starting or Lue if they sign him to a contract.
__________________ "Gasol reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas boom boom Pau" - Mark Jackson.
With no other free agent pg left on the market, I say we go hard after Anderson, I just don't want Atkins starting or Lue if they sign him to a contract.
There is Van Exel, who is more of a PG then Anderson. Also Jon Barry can play point. And isn't Earl Watson still around? Anderson would be good, but health. I wouldn't give him the full MLE.
__________________ "President Obama's speech on the gulf oil disaster Tuesday night was written at a 10th-grade level, which, according to analysts, may have gone over the heads of many in his audience." - The Dumbing Down Of America Continues...
I'd rather have Derek Anderson than any of those other plays mentioned. Anderson is probably still regretting not accepting that offer from the Spurs a few years ago or perhaps his career thus far would have shown what a talented and versitale guy he is.
If the Lakers land Anderson I guarantee they will make the playoffs.
With no other free agent pg left on the market, I say we go hard after Anderson, I just don't want Atkins starting or Lue if they sign him to a contract.
There is Van Exel, who is more of a PG then Anderson. Also Jon Barry can play point. And isn't Earl Watson still around? Anderson would be good, but health. I wouldn't give him the full MLE.
Van Exel is leaning more towards signing with a texas team Houston or Dallas. Barry can play spot up minutes at point, but he's more of a sg. Watson is still available but he's asking for more then the MLE and the price range is out of the Laker's reach.
__________________ "Gasol reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas boom boom Pau" - Mark Jackson.
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Welcome to Sports Rumor Mill! We are one of the top sports destination for talking about the latest news, rumors, trades and scores. If you feel you have something important to say about sports, say it here. We only have 1 rule, "Come strong or don't come at all." Or in the words of Jim Rome, "Have a take and don't suck!"