Ronny Turiaf Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Sign Ronny Turiaf

March 21st, 2012 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Ronny Turiaf has signed with the Heat, team owner Micky Arison confirmed today (via Twitter). The deal will be for the league minimum and will include a player option as an "insurance policy" for next season, tweets SI.com's Sam Amick.

The Nuggets acquired Turiaf in the trade that sent Nene to Washington and JaVale McGee to Denver. Since Turiaf was included in the deal primarily for salary-matching purposes, he was waived by the Nuggets this weekend, and reportedly drew interest from more than ten teams upon his release.

Turiaf, 29, only appeared in four games for the Wizards this season due to a broken hand, but appears to be healthy enough to return to the floor. He'll join a Heat team that has had to rely on bigs like Dexter Pittman and Mickell Gladness this season. Miami has an open roster spot and won't need to make a corresponding move.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports first reported that Turiaf and the Heat were finalizing terms on a contract.

Thunder, Heat Frontrunners For Derek Fisher

March 20th, 2012 at 3:42pm CST by Luke Adams

3:42pm: Fisher is in "advanced negotiations" to sign with the Thunder after he clears waivers, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Oklahoma City has the advantage over Miami because the Thunder have more financial flexibility and can offer Fisher a larger role, says Stein.

3:03pm: Sources close to Fisher expect him to sign with the Thunder if he clears waivers, according to Sam Amick of SI.com (Twitter link).

12:48pm: The Spurs are still expecting to sign Mills and don't plan to talk to Fisher, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

12:08pm: The Celtics and Bulls aren't interested in Fisher, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Berger adds that Fisher is expected to discuss "ideas and concepts" with the Spurs, Heat, and Thunder.

8:05am: The Thunder and Heat have emerged as the favorites to sign Derek Fisher, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Fisher, who was bought out by the Rockets, is expected to clear waivers tomorrow.

The Spurs are also believed to have some interest in Fisher, but San Antonio is still hopeful about completing a deal with Patrick Mills. Stein adds that signing with Chicago is something that "strongly interests" Fisher, but the Bulls are focused on signing a big man, possibly Ronny Turiaf.

According to Stein, there are a couple factors that could work in the Thunder's favor in the race for Fisher: The veteran point guard now shares an agent with Kevin Durant, and Oklahoma City has a good chance to face Fisher's old team in the Western Conference playoffs. Unlike the Heat, however, the Thunder don't have an open roster spot, so they'd need to waive someone to clear room for Fisher.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports that the Rockets allowed Fisher's agent to speak to "about six teams" during buyout negotiations to gauge interest. Knowing there were contending teams interested in bringing him aboard, the 37-year-old felt comfortable giving up the final year of his contract (Twitter links).

Kyler On Arenas, Hickson, Turiaf, Fisher, Powell

March 20th, 2012 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

In his latest NBA AM piece for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler checks in on a few free agents and free-agents-to-be, providing updates on their potential destinations. Let's round up the highlights….

Gilbert Arenas is expected to take a physical and finalize his deal with the Grizzlies today.
The Pacers, Cavaliers, and Raptors, who all have enough cap space to easily absorb J.J. Hickson's $2.35MM salary, won't be placing waiver claims.
A number of teams are interested in Ronny Turiaf but "word is" the forward will likely decide between the Celtics and Heat. Like Hickson, he doesn't figure to be claimed on waivers by clubs with cap space.
The Lakers have extended an offer to Derek Fisher to join the team's basketball operations staff. However, it doesn't appear Fisher is ready to retire just yet. We heard earlier today that the Thunder and Heat are the favorites to land the longtime Laker.
Josh Powell is drawing interest from the Suns and Celtics, as Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reported last night. I believe Powell signed in Switzerland late in February, and I haven't seen any reports that indicate he's parted ways with Neuchatel. The Swiss regular season has ended though, so perhaps Powell is lining up an NBA job for when he returns. Since he hasn't played for an NBA team this season, he can sign after March 23rd and still be eligible for the postseason.

Turiaf To Decide On New Team By Wednesday

March 19th, 2012 at 9:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent Ronny Turiaf will decide on a new team by Wednesday, agent Mark Bartelstein told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Celtics and Heat lead the pack of interested teams.

The Nuggets waived Turiaf yesterday, just days after receiving him from the Wizards in the deal that brought them JaVale McGee. The 6’10” big man has the unique distinction of being involved in two three-team deals inside of four months.

Rivers: Celtics Close To Adding Player

March 19th, 2012 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

1:09pm: Following up his earlier tweet, Blakely writes that the Celtics hope to add a player today, and expect to make a move by Friday at the latest. Blakely adds that Boston is keeping an eye on potential buyout candidates like Chris Kaman and Lamar Odom, just in case they become available.

"You want to wait for that," Rivers said. "You don't want to sign a guy and then another guy (you're interested in) buys out. It's a game of chicken, but it's hurting us. We literally need a body. We just need anybody."

12:51pm: If a move is imminent for the Celtics, don't expect it to involve Ronny Turiaf, says Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. Although Turiaf "drew immediate interest" from Boston, he still needs to clear waivers, and agent Mark Bartelstein says his client may take some time after that to make a decision on where to sign.

10:44am: The Celtics are "close" to adding another player, coach Doc Rivers tells A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (Twitter link). Blakely adds that the player is likely a big man. The Celtics have been lacking frontcourt depth with Chris Wilcox and Jermaine O'Neal out.

Boston's roster currently sits at 15 players, so the team would have to make a corresponding move to make room for a new addition. O'Neal is perhaps the likeliest Celtic to be cut or bought out. Rivers said last week that he doesn't expect the veteran big man to play for Boston again this season, and O'Neal is rumored to be seeking a buyout. Resolution on his situation, whether that means a buyout or wrist surgery, was expected to come early this week.

As for the player the Celtics may be adding, Rivers said on Friday that recently waived Blazer Chris Johnson is "an absolute option" for Boston.

Odds & Ends: Odom, Aldridge, Jefferson, Celtics

March 18th, 2012 at 6:51pm CST by Michael Pina

In his first game since becoming a member of the Warriors, Richard Jefferson had a tough go, making just two of 14 shots and scoring nine points in just under 38 minutes of play. On Thursday, the Spurs dealt Jefferson for veteran swingman Stephen Jackson. Due to the approximate $30 million due his way over the next three years (including an $11 million player option in 2013-14 which he's likely to exercise), the Warriors were questioned for making the deal.

Here are a few other notes from around the league.

John Denton tweets that Otis Smith is content with the Magic roster and can't see adding any of the recently bought out vets like Derek Fisher and Ronny Turiaf. CBS Sports' Matt Moore explores potential landing spots for Fisher.
The Blazers have announced a Monday press conference for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet, suggesting they passed their physicals (via Mike Tokito tweet).
Yesterday, Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears wrote a detailed feature on Lamar Odom's struggles in Dallas. Inside the piece, Spears notes that Odom formally requested a buyout in February, but was rejected by owner Mark Cuban and general manager Donnie Nelson.
Upon hearing that Ronny Turiaf has officially been bought out by the Nuggets, WEEI.com's Paul Flannery takes a look into whether the Celtics might be interested in bringing the 6'10" Frenchman aboard. Boston made no moves at the trade deadline but with the future of Jermaine O'Neal still in serious doubt, they're still in need of a big man or two.
Since taking over for the Trail Blazers former head coach Nate McMillan, Kaleb Canales has decided to utilize LaMarcus Aldridge more from the elbow. According to CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes, the move was made before Friday night's win against Chicago, and Portland's best player has said he's enjoying the change.

Nuggets Waive Ronny Turiaf

March 18th, 2012 at 12:06pm CST by Daniel Seco

The Nuggets have waived center Ronny Turiaf after receiving the former Gonzaga star from the Wizards in the Nene trade that became official on Sunday. Turiaf, was acquired along with JaVale McGee and a second-round pick in a three-team trade with the Wizards and Clippers on March 15. He played four games with the Wizards this season, averaging 1.5 PPG and 3.1 RPG.

The 29-year-old Frenchman has played for the Lakers, Warriors, Knicks and Wizards over the course of his seven-year career. Per the new collective bargaining agreement, Turiaf may not return to the Wizards until after the season. There is no word on whether the former second-round draft pick by the Lakers plans to continue his NBA career or head overseas to play in Europe.

Nuggets Plan To Waive Ronny Turiaf

March 16th, 2012 at 8:37am CST by Luke Adams

With the Nuggets closing in on a long-term contract for Wilson Chandler, the team intends to waive Ronny Turiaf to clear a roster spot, according to GM Masai Ujiri (via Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post).

Turiaf was acquired from the Wizards yesterday in the three-team blockbuster that also sent JaVale McGee to Denver, with Nene heading to Washington. Turiaf had to be included in the deal to make the salaries match up, but clearly isn't a part of the Nuggets' plans. Assuming he's waived within the next few days, Turiaf should have the opportunity to clear waivers and join another team in search of a big man — if he signs eslewhere before next Friday, he would be eligible to play in the postseason for his new club.

Chandler, meanwhile, says he hopes to finalize his deal soon and join the team Sunday or Monday: "I’ve been back for over a month. It’s been tough sitting out and watching the games. Hopefully I can end it soon" (Twitter links via Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com).

Recap Of Trade Deadline Deals

March 15th, 2012 at 5:33pm CST by Sean Highkin

Here's the complete list of trades that took place this week leading up to the trade deadline earlier today:

On Tuesday, the Warriors sent Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.
The Warriors then flipped Jackson to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson, T.J. Ford, and a first-round pick on Thursday.
The Grizzlies traded Sam Young to the 76ers for the rights to former second-round pick Ricky Sanchez.
The Pacers acquired Leandro Barbosa from the Raptors in exchange for a second-round draft pick and cash considerations.
The Blazers entered rebuild mode by trading Gerald Wallace to the Nets for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and a 2012 first-round draft pick with top-3 protection.
Portland also sent Marcus Camby to the Rockets for Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet, and a second-round pick.
The Rockets acquired Derek Fisher from the Lakers as well as the Mavericks' 2012 first-round pick (from the Lamar Odom trade) for Jordan Hill.
The Lakers also traded for Ramon Sessions, sending Luke Walton, Jason Kapono, and a 2012 first-round pick to the Cavaliers and also receiving Christian Eyenga. The Cavs will also have the ability to swap the Heat's 2013 pick (which they own from the LeBron James sign-and-trade) with the Lakers' pick that year.
The Nuggets, Wizards, and Clippers agreed to a three-team deal that will send Nene, Brian Cook, and a future second-round draft pick to Washington; Nick Young to the Clippers; and JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf to Denver.

Nuggets, Wizards, Clips Agree To Three-Way Deal

March 15th, 2012 at 4:55pm CST by Luke Adams

4:55pm: Lee clarifies (via Twitter) that the Hornets' pick heading to the Wizards is a 2015 selection. Lee also reports that Young was initially supposed to go to the Nuggets in the deal, but declined to surrender his Bird rights to go to Denver (Twitter link).

4:42pm: The draft pick the Clippers are sending to Washington is the second-round pick they acquired from the Hornets, so it should be an early second-rounder, tweets Michael Lee.

2:38pm: The Clippers have acquired Nick Young from the Wizards as part of a three-team trade, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, JaVale McGee is heading to Denver and Nene will go to Washington (Twitter link). Ronny Turiaf will also head to the Nuggets, with Brian Cook going to the Wizards, tweets Michael Lee of the Washington Post. The Wizards will receive a future second-round pick from the Clippers, says Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

For the Nuggets, the deal seems intended to create future cap flexibility. Ken Berger of CBS Sports hears Denver had been experiencing some "buyer's remorse" about Nene's long-term deal (Twitter link). The future cap space created could make the Nuggets more inclined to increase their offer to restricted free agent Wilson Chandler before his self-imposed Friday deadline.

The Wizards acquire what appears to be their center of the future in Nene. Presumably, amidst reports that McGee would seek $14MM annually in free agency this summer, Washington decided to acquire a big man they felt was worth that sort of commitment. Nene has four years and $52MM remaining on his contract after this season.

The Clippers, meanwhile, use the $3.8MM trade exception they received by trading Eric Gordon to absorb Young's salary. For the low cost of Cook and a second-rounder, they've added a two guard to help in a potential postseason run. Young has the ability to veto any trade he's involved in, but multiple reports have suggested he appears willing to approve this deal.

TNT's David Aldridge first tweeted that the Wizards and Nuggets were "in serious talks" about a deal involving Young, McGee, and Hilario.