Second-round pick Turiaf signs contract with Lakers

Ronny Turiaf seems to have accelerated the process of proving himself to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Gonzaga University graduate signed a two-year contract with the Lakers on Wednesday, with the first of those two years guaranteed. The deal is worth an estimated $1 million should he play both years.

Turiaf was recently selected in the second round of the National Basketball Association draft by the Lakers, with the 37th overall pick. The 6-foot-10 forward has been playing in the Southern California Summer Pro League, averaging 14 points and 4.5 rebounds through the team’s first four games – including a 26-point, 11-rebound effort against Dallas.

He’s one of four Gonzaga grads seeing action in pro leagues this summer. Blake Stepp is playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Reebok Vegas league; Cory Violette will play with Houston in the Minnesota Summer League starting Friday; and Richard Fox is on Seattle’s roster for the Rocky Mountain Revue in Utah, as is former Idaho player Kaniel Dickens.

Washington State’s Thomas Kelati and Jeff Varem are also on summer rosters, Varem as Stepp’s teammate with the Cavs and Kelati with the Los Angeles Clippers in Las Vegas.