Recovered Turiaf rises again with Sun Kings

Ronny Turiaf is still hoping that the broken path he is traveling will eventually lead to the NBA. But the latest step the former Gonzaga University standout has taken has landed him in – of all places – Yakima.

Turiaf, a 6-foot-10 forward and second-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers, will officially begin his comeback from open-heart surgery and professional basketball career as a member of the Continental Basketball Association’s Yakima Sun Kings.

Turiaf joined the CBA team prior to Tuesday night’s home game against the Dakota Wizards, but did not play. He could not be reached for comment, but Yakima assistant coach Don Sellers said Turiaf is scheduled to make his professional debut on Monday, when the Sun Kings take on the Idaho Stampede in Boise.

“We’re just waiting to make sure his agent is happy with the contract,” Sellers said, adding that he expected the short-team deal to be finalized later Tuesday evening.

Turiaf, 22, who had his NBA contract with the Lakers voided after it was discovered he had an enlarged aortic root, underwent open heart surgery in July to correct the problem and was expected to be sidelined for at least a year.

But after rehabbing the last five months in Spokane, he flew to Los Angeles last week to undergo informal workouts and further medical examinations with the Lakers, who have since cleared him to begin playing again.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times prior to those workouts and examinations that it was “not that far-fetched” to think Turiaf might play for the Lakers this season – should he receive medical clearance.

“After that, it’s a matter of conditioning, skill level and (evaluating) our roster,” Kupchak added.

Sellers said Turiaf is already in splendid physical condition after having scrimmaged with his former Gonzaga teammates for the past several weeks.

“Gonzaga’s done a great job of getting him back in shape,” Sellers explained. “And now we’ll work with him for a couple of weeks and just try to expound on what GU has already done.”

Sellers, a former NBA scout, added he expects Turiaf’s stay with the Sun Kings to be short.

“What we don’t want is for him to stay with us,” he said. “He needs to move on. He’s too good a guy and too great a player to stay in the CBA.”

Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he believes Kupchak would like to re-sign Turiaf and have him available later this winter.

“But they’ve got some contract issues and quite a few hoops to jump through,” Few explained.

Should the Lakers resign Turiaf, even if they send him to the NBA’s developmental league, they would have to waive a player on their roster. Coach Phil Jackson told reporters last week that the organization has not had enough time to sufficiently evaluate such a move.

According to The Sporting News, Jackson said, “There’s no way that we thought there would ever be a possibility he’d play this season. But the more and more we get medical reports and the more we see him, the more we realize he’s anxious to play, he’s been cleared and there’s a possibility that he may be on the court playing.”

During his workouts with the Lakers, Turiaf told reporters he was not surprised by the progress he has made.

“I told you guys that I would be back at some point playing basketball,” he said.

It appears the Sun Kings will be the first professional team to benefit as Turiaf fulfills his promise.