<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DALLAS ? Ronny Turiaf is closer than anyone expected to becoming a member of the Lakers this season. The second-round draft pick, who underwent open-heart surgery in July, will visit team doctors next week and, if he receives clearance, could begin practicing. "To date, the [medical] results have been very encouraging," Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "That's where it is right now. It's not that far-fetched for him to be a part of this team this season." Turiaf, 22, pledged to return to the court after he had surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root. He is currently a graduate assistant coach with Gonzaga and has scrimmaged with the nationally ranked Bulldogs numerous times. "What he does on his own, although we're aware of it, that's done with his knowledge and the doctor who did the surgery" at Stanford University Medical Center, Kupchak said. "Obviously, if he is scrimmaging and he's listening to his doctors, he's gotten permission to do that. He's going to have to clear our doctors too. ? We hope to have him see our doctors within a week to 10 days." If Turiaf is medically cleared by Laker doctors, the team would work him out to determine his basketball conditioning. If all is satisfactory, the Lakers would have to waive a player to make room for Turiaf. Devin Green and Von Wafer would be the main possibilities. "We knew we liked him during the summer and we felt he earned a spot on our roster just by his play this summer," Kupchak said. "We love his energy and the little things he does."</div> Source Great news! The Lakers could definitely use him to shore up the frontline and have a physical presence inside.
I never seen him play...but I hear great things about him. I rather cut Von Wafer than Devin Green though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Comeback kid: Ronny Turiaf, the Lakers' second-round pick who underwent open-heart surgery in July, visited practice Thursday and could soon participate in team practices. Turiaf has to sign a contract and be cleared by Laker doctors before he can return, and admitted that he is far from being in game shape but expressed optimism about a possible return this season. "It could be tomorrow, it could be 10 days from now, I don't know," Turiaf said. "I'm just taking it slowly, step by step, and hopefully I can be back soon. "(Doctors) can't believe that I'm doing so much right now and that I'm so far ahead of schedule. I'm just progressing slowly and taking one step at a time and hoping that I can come back at some point soon." Turiaf, who has been working out at Gonzaga with his former college teammates, underwent surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root and "I'm feeling great," he said. "I'm alive, first of all, so I'm feeling good, and I can work out and do anything I want. I'm feeling like a new man now." </div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">F Ronny Turiaf, taken by the Lakers with the 35th pick in June's NBA draft, may be cleared to practice soon. Turiaf underwent heart surgery July 26 to repair an enlarged aortic root, a problem discovered in a post-draft physical. Results of medical tests he underwent Friday probably will determine by early next week whether he's ready to go. ... </div> From ESPN.com
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">From ESPN.com</div> yeah i saw that, finally a season where the Lakers can play together w/o constant injuries.
