LAKERS NOTEBOOK: DECISION TIME ON TURIAF.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak will be in attendance tonight in Yakima, Wash., to watch forward Ronny Turiaf play what could be his last game before signing an NBA contract.

Although he dispatched scouting director Bill Bertka to Sioux Falls, S.D., to watch Turiaf play two games last week, Kupchak said he wanted to see Turiaf play in person before the Lakers decide about signing him for the rest of the season.

Turiaf played 58 minutes in back-to-back games this weekend, totaling 27 points and 11 rebounds in one and 18 points and 5 rebounds in another. He has played eight games with the Yakama Sun Kings of the Continental Basketball Association in his comeback from heart surgery.

``We're very encouraged with what we've seen,'' said Kupchak, who worked out Turiaf twice before he signed with the Sun Kings last month.

The Lakers also have guaranteed the contracts of Smush Parker, Von Wafer and Devin Green. With 15 players under contract, the Lakers would need to either make a trade or reach a settlement with an injured player to free a roster spot for Turiaf.

Forward Slava Medvedenko (back surgery) and guard Laron Profit (ruptured Achilles tendon) are not expected to play the rest of the season.

Agent Keith Moss said Turiaf's conditioning is at about 80 percent. Moss said Turiaf went to the CBA with the twin goals of getting into game shape and giving the Lakers time to make a roster move.

``I think (the Lakers) would be happy with where he is now compared to three weeks ago,'' Moss said. ``He did what he was asked to do in going to the CBA and playing 'X' amount of games. He got some of his conditioning back.''

Kupchak said no deadline to sign Turiaf has come up in conversations with his representatives. But Moss said Turiaf would like a decision by the end of the week. Turiaf has offers to play for teams in Spain and Italy.

``My understanding is Ronny does want to be a Laker,'' Kupchak said, ``and we have given him every indication in the world that's what we want, too.''

Lakers coach Phil Jackson cautioned against expecting Turiaf, who would play behind both Kwame Brown and Brian Cook, to make a significant contribution if he is signed.

``I can't anticipate how a rookie could add a big lift to a team,'' Jackson said. ``He's a kid that has no experience in the game. He's recovering from the open heart surgery in (July).

``We'll be happy to have him on the team. He's a good spirited guy. He's a Mark Madsen-type of guy who's going to support guys off the bench. If he can contribute six or eight minutes in the first month and help us out, that'll be more than we ask for.''

--No worries: Green already has defied the odds in making it to the NBA after going undrafted out of Hampton. He said he wasn't overly concerned with his contract situation but glad to have it out of the way.

What Green now wants is the chance to play. He came into Monday having played in just one of the Lakers' previous eight games. But Green said he feels like he has made progress and has gotten positive feedback from his coaches.

``They just say that I'm a hard worker,'' Green said. ``I just come in and pretty much do my job. They don't have to worry about me acting up or having an attitude or anything like that.''