Who will the Lakers replace for Ronny Turiaf?

Question

Who will the Lakers replace for Ronny Turiaf?

Answer 1

The Lakers confirmed Wednesday that former NBA player Robert “Tractor” Traylor has been invited to their El Segundo practice facility for a private workout to be conducted Thursday.

The 31-year old Traylor has not played in the NBA since the 2004-2005 season, when he averaged 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 74 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Traylor will be put through an assortment of drills by the Lakers’ coaching staff that likely will include Bill Bertka, who has been at the practice facility this week.

If the workout goes well, Traylor likely would be signed to a non-guaranteed contract and invited to training camp.

The Lakers currently only have 12 players under contract but general manager Mitch Kupchak said Monday that he plans to have 18 players signed by the time training camp begins in October.

Most recently, Traylor has been serving time in a Michigan halfway house for preparing a false tax return.

Traylor was sentenced last September to three years probation and three months in a federal halfway house.

In order to attend Thursday’s workout, Traylor received permission from US District judge Avern Cohn, who ruled Wednesday on a motion filed Tuesday by Traylor’s attorney, Steve Fishman, to overrule Traylor’s probation officer’s denial of his request to travel out of the state.

Traylor never has come close to fulfilling the expectations that came with him being selected sixth overall by the Dallas Mavericks, in the 1998 NBA draft.

The Mavericks immediately traded the rights to Traylor on draft night to the Milwaukee Bucks. In exchange for Traylor, the Mavericks received the draft rights to Dirk Nowitzki, whom Milwaukee drafted with the ninth overall pick.

Nowitzki has gone on to become a seven-time All-Star and was the league’s MVP in 2006-2007.

Traylor also was drafted ahead of Boston’s Paul Pierce, a six-time All-Star player, who was the MVP of the 2008 NBA finals, after leading the Celtics past the Lakers in a six-game series.

Traylor’s career numbers are 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 438 games.

Answer 2

Last year Ronny Turiaf played 18.7 minutes minutes per game (9.8 in the playoffs) for the Lakers.  I think the Lakers are already set in terms of making up for Ronny Turiaf's minutes.

With the return of Andrew Bynum, there will be fewer excess minutes to go around.  Last year the Lakers didn't have the luxury of having Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol at the same time.  Now Gasol will be able to play power forward as well as center.  Also, I'm not too big on him, but the Lakers will be looking to Chris Mihm for some quality minutes in the frontcourt.  He's someone who was only available to the Lakers for a short time last year.

Answer 3

Maybe Brett Favre should be. Packers don't want him. Maybe he could play basketball instead.

Answer 4

chris mihm

Answer 5

Roni didn't see much playing time in the playoffs and with Bynum coming back he would see even less.So really there's not much to replace.

Answer 6

Manny Ramierez, they have the same hair. And Manny will be just as productive as Turiaf.....