NBA Journeyman, Ronny Turiaf, has undergone season ending Hip surgery, according to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Nikola Pekovic was the slated starter and the team is very high on great prospect Gorgui Dieng behind him and Turiaf was in the third slot. But with Pekovic out much of the season, who may not be back until the start of the new year, there were minutes up for grabs.
But Turiaf, 31, couldn’t get healthy enough to take advantage of that time available. He’s battled a hip issue all season, only getting 19 minutes total from 2 games played, and now he has undergone surgery to correct the hip problem, the team announced.
The #Twolves today announced that forward/center Ronny Turiaf underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure this morning on his right hip.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) December 16, 2014
Turiaf will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2014-15 season #Twolves
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) December 16, 2014
The T-Wolves though, may be looking to cut Ronny Turiaf’s contract to free up roster space, according to reports from Jerry Zgoda at the Star Tribune.
Turiaf’s contract — with a $1.6 million salary — expires after this season. (Timberwolves GM) Flip Saunders said this morning the team would waive Turiaf and pay him his remaining owed money “if there’s the right person available.”
That could be just keeping around forward Jeff Adrien, whose current 10-day roster exception spot runs through Friday. Or it could be a guard such as D League sharpshooter Brady Heslip, who was with the Wolves in training camp.
Sad news for a solid NBA player, a guy who is a straight up ‘hustle guy’ and always looks like he’s having a ton of fun out on the court. Hopefully this isn’t the end for Turiaf and his career.
