Report: Turiaf joins Warriors

Jul 19, 2008 - 6:15 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Ronny Turiaf is apparently the newest member of the Golden State Warriors.

According to a report Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle, Turiaf joined the Warriors' roster when the Los Angeles Lakers did not match Golden State's qualifying offer.

"Let's end this; the Lakers aren't going to match," Turiaf's agent Mark Bartelstein told the newspaper. "Ronny is very excited; this is the perfect system for him."

The Lakers had seven days to match the Warriors' four-year, $17 million deal, which was relayed to Los Angeles on July 11.

With centers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum on their roster, the Lakers had no reason to retain Turiaf at a price that would have caused the team's luxury tax payout to skyrocket.

A 6-10 center, Turiaf averaged career highs in points (6.6), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (18.7) last season with Los Angeles, which fell to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals last month.

The Warriors have already had a big offseason, signing former Los Angeles Clippers swingman Corey Maggette to a five-year contract earlier this month.