HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ethan J. Skolnick: Also, Bartelstein says Turiaf's hamstring injury was significant enuff "that he never got right." Believable. Heat always downplays injuries Twitter

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Ronny Turiaf 

The Heat has retained one backup center and lost another. Ronny Turiaf on Saturday opted out of a contract that would have paid him the veteran’s minimum $1.2 million next season. But Miami guaranteed Dexter Pittman’s contract (worth $854,369) by Friday’s deadline. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Ronny Turiaf, Dexter Pittman 

Bartelstein said the Heat has expressed interest in keeping Turiaf and he plans to speak with Heat president Pat Riley. But the Heat very likely would not offer him more than the minimum. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Pat Riley, Ronny Turiaf 

Ronny Turiaf: “I’m not the most talented player in the world, but I know exactly what I have to do in a team.” FIBA.com

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf 

Brian Windhorst: Ronny Turiaf will not pick up option with Heat & will become an unrestricted free agent according to agent Mark Bartelstein Twitter

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Ronny Turiaf 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Miami will have the 3 year, $9M mini-midlevel as primary chip. Then vet mins or a trade, w/ latter hard to pull off. Twitter

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Ronny Turiaf 

Agent Mark Bartelstein said Wednesday that backup center Ronny Turiaf will wait until his Saturday deadline to decide on his $1.2 million Heat option clause for 2012-13. That could impact the Heat's decision with backup center Dexter Pittman, with the Heat having until Saturday to decide whether to guaranteed Pittman's 2012-13 salary. Sulia

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Mark Bartelstein, Ronny Turiaf, Dexter Pittman 

Four current and former NBA players who have had heart surgery communicate with each other regularly through phone calls and texts. One is playing in the ongoing NBA Finals, so it’s no surprise the other three are paying close attention. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf, Injuries 

“It’s been like a fraternity out there,’’ said Miami center Ronny Turiaf, who had surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root in his heart in 2005 and whose Heat are facing Oklahoma City in the Finals. “We’re just trying to stick with each other and show support with each other.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf, Injuries 

The other members of the club are former NBA guard and current Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg, Etan Thomas, a former NBA forward who wants to get back in the league next season, and forward Jeff Green, who missed this NBA season because of a heart surgery but is expected to return next season. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf, Injuries, Jeff Green, Etan Thomas, Fred Hoiberg 

Thomas sat out all of 2007-08 but returned to play in the NBA from 2008-11. Although he wasn't active this past season, Thomas, who turned 34 in April, said he’s not yet retired and will try to make a team next season. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf, Injuries, Jeff Green, Etan Thomas, Fred Hoiberg 

Unlike Turiaf and Thomas and expected to be unlike Green, Hoiberg did not return to the NBA following his heart surgery. He said he could have come back but didn’t because he was the father of four young children and didn't want to take any chances. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf, Injuries, Jeff Green, Etan Thomas, Fred Hoiberg 

Ronny Turiaf had options after the Nuggets bought him out in March. He chose the Heat and, while he hasn’t always been in the rotation, he has started seven games in the playoffs and could get some time in the Finals. “It’s worked out the exact way as I would have hoped,” Turiaf said. “Adapt myself into a team that was already established when I got there. Had success at various points during my time here, held the fort down when Chris was down. I feel like it’s been a fun run.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf 

With Ronny Turiaf practicing Thursday, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says following shootaround, "For the first time probably in a long time, we have everybody available." Sulia

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Ronny Turiaf 

Pietrus (Guadeloupe) and Turiaf (Martinique) both grew up on Caribbean islands that are overseas territories of France. They met as teenagers and formed a bond playing for the French national team that has endured throughout their NBA careers. “We’ve known each other for quite a while,” Turiaf said. “We definitely have a special bond. We don’t have a chance to do it right now because of the hectic schedule, but we definitely keep in touch throughout the year.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Mickael Pietrus, Ronny Turiaf 

“One of the best memories in my life as an athlete was to be a young kid just having fun together, playing for each other and ultimately winning the European championship in a fun fashion,” Turiaf said. “Those memories are with us for the rest of our lives.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Mickael Pietrus, Ronny Turiaf 

Ethan J. Skolnick: What was Turiaf reading before the game? A biography of Bob Marley. But you knew that already. Twitter

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf 

Mixing and matching with All-Star forward Chris Bosh out with an abdominal strain, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra started center Ronny Turiaf and forward Shane Battier in Sunday’s Game 4 up front with LeBron James. Dwyane Wade, hoping to bounce back from the worst playoff game of his career, is in the backcourt with Mario Chalmers. Boston Herald

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf, Shane Battier 

That was a result of the first surprise. Last week, Turiaf's business manager had woken him from a nap to go to a meeting. At the supposed meeting, at a waterside restaurant, the business manager asked if he could see dolphins swimming. He could not, and saw something better instead. "All my aunties jumped me," Turiaf said. "And started kissing me." They had come from Martinique, with his father, a cousin and Annie. So they got tickets to the game, and grandma – "who doesn't know much about basketball" – wore one of the LeBron James' "MVP" headbands. "I have had a great personal week," Turiaf said. "This is something that God gave me." Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Ronny Turiaf 

Jeff Zillgitt: France names 18-man preliminary roster for London Olympics. NBAers on list: Batum, Beaubois, Diaw, Mahinmi, Noah, Parker, Seraphin, Turiaf. Twitter

Tony Parker, Kevin Seraphin, FIBA, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ronny Turiaf, Ian Mahinmi, Joakim Noah, France, Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum