As expected, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak announced late Friday the Lakers will not match the four-year, $17 million offer sheet Turiaf signed a week ago with the Golden State Warriors.

"When we looked realistically at how much time Ronny Turiaf will play for us," Kupchak said, "it's probably not a number that justifies that kind of financial commitment."

Because the Lakers are over the trigger point for the luxury tax, they would be assessed an amount equal to any amount spent, an expensive deal for a reserve such as Turiaf, who averaged 18.7 minutes in the regular season last year but only 9.8 in the postseason.

Turiaf, who made $770,610 last season, was not available for comment Friday, but Kupchak, who met with him Thursday, said the 6-foot-10, 250-pound, three-year veteran was at peace with the knowledge he would be heading north.

"The last thing a 25-year-old like Ronny wants to do is sit on the bench," Kupchak said.

Kupchak estimated Turiaf probably would have logged no more than 10 to 15 minutes a game had the Lakers retained him.

"Ronny feels strongly that his future is not here in Los Angeles," Kupchak said. "He feels it's time to move on, and that's a hard thing for a kid like that to say."

Turiaf averaged career bests of 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds last season in 78 games. But, with his reduced time in the postseason, he averaged just 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Against the dominating frontcourt of the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, Turiaf totaled 11 points and four rebounds, none on the offensive boards, in the six games while averaging 10.3 minutes.

Still, Turiaf is about more than numbers. The native of Martinique exuded a contagious passion for the game that could be felt even from the bench.

As for those minutes the Lakers will be missing from Turiaf, Kupchak is confident they can be made up by the return of both starting center Andrew Bynum, who suffered a knee injury that cost him the second half of last season, and Chris Mihm, who was the starting center until an ankle injury caused him to miss all of the 2006-07 season and most of last year.

Bynum was cleared by his therapist Friday to expand his rehabilitation program to include light work on the court.