Mon Jun 30 18:42:07 2008

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Lakers extend qualifying offers to Vujacic, Turiaf

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El Segundo, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers have extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents, guard Sasha Vujacic and forward Ronny Turiaf.

The Lakers own the right of first refusal with the ability to match offers for either player with the move.

The 24-year-old Vujacic was a key cog in the Lakers bench play down the stretch last season, averaging 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 21 playoff games for Los Angeles, which fell short to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Vujacic, entering his fifth year in the league and with the Lakers, appeared in 72 regular season games off the bench in 2007-08, averaging 8.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field.

The 25-year-old Turiaf is entering his fourth season in the league and with the Lakers, having appeared in 78 regular season games (21 starts) for Los Angeles last season. The Gonzaga product averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting 47.4 percent from the field. Turiaf also appeared in 19 playoff contests last season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Vujacic has career averages of 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 262 games and Turiaf 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 173 games.