Report: Turiaf to sign offer sheet with Warriors

Jul 10, 2008 - 2:16 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward and restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf is expected to sign an offer sheet with the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, according to a report posted on the Los Angeles Times' web site.

Citing league sources, the Times reports the Warriors offered a four-year, $17 million contract to Turiaf, who averaged career highs in points (6.6), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (18.7) last season.

The Lakers have seven days to match the offer, but the article states that they are not expected to do so as a result of luxury taxes. Los Angeles paid nearly $5 million in luxury taxes last season. The team payroll is $75.1 million with the tax for the 2008-09 campaign being triggered at $71.15 million.

Turiaf, 25, made $770,610 last season and the Lakers retained the right of first refusal last week by giving him a one-year qualifying offer of $1 million.

According to the Times, the Lakers have also made a $2.6 million qualifying offer for Sasha Vujacic, who averaged 8.1 points and made 45 percent of his 3-pointers last season while playing a backup role behind point guard Derek Fisher.