TORONTO -- Kyle Lowry didnt hide the fact he met with contenders like the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets during the interview portion of NBA free agency, but in the end the opportunity to call the Toronto Raptors "his team" was too good to pass up. Jesperi Kotkaniemi Jersey . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework. I did my research," the point guard said. "I had a couple meetings with my family and we circled the pros and cons and we took teams away one by one. "Other teams had some great things and I think they had pieces that were comparable pieces, but I think the situation that Im in, the age Im (at), me being able to lead a team, to lead a team and grow as a person, that was a very big factor in it." Lowry played a large role in the Raptors ending a five-year playoff drought this past season. The 28-year-old averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 assists per game and had a player efficiency rating of 20.1, which placed him 22nd in the league and sixth among point guards. The six-foot, 205-pound Philadelphia native, made $6.2 million last season. His new deal, which carries an annual average value of $12 million puts him atop the Raptors payroll. By comparison, DeMar DeRozans deal, which is in the second of four years, pays him $9.5-million in 2014-15. "The deal was done exactly the way I wanted," said Lowry, who joined the Raptors in a 2012 trade with Houston. "You dont get many chances to say its your team, honestly. As a competitor, as a professional, I relish in that. The fact that I get to say that its my team, Im the leader of the team." Toronto finished a franchise-best 46-34 in the regular season to win the clubs second Atlantic Division before losing to Brooklyn in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Re-signing Lowry, one of the top unrestricted point guards available, was a high priority for Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri. "It was a good feeling I had coming out of the meeting (with Kyle)," said Ujiri of negotiations. "Ive had this meeting before where its gone the other way and you come out and youre like going what just happened there? or where is this going?. "With Kyle, theres always been a great spirit and great communication so I had a sense, but with free agency you never know because it can spin in one day. Were glad he made the decision. It says so much about him and maybe even our organization." Lowrys signing is just part of what has been a busy off-season for Ujiri. Thursday afternoon the club announced it had dealt forward Steve Novak and a future second-round draft choice to the Utah Jazz for point guard Diante Garrett. The six-foot-four, 190-pound Garrett appeared in 71 games with the Jazz last season, averaging 3.5 points, 1.7 assists and 14.8 minutes. On Wednesday night reports surfaced the team has re-signed Greivis Vasquez to a two-year, $13 million contract. Vasquezs signing is in addition to reports the team has inked big man Patrick Patterson to a three-year US$18 million contract. Both deals are expected to be announced Monday. Toronto has also reportedly come to terms with 18-year-old Brazilian Bruno Cabloco, who Toronto took 20th overall at the NBA draft. The Raptors have also reportedly brought back James Johnson with a two-year deal. The forward spent part of the 2010-11 season and all of 2011-12 with Toronto. Last week, Ujiri dealt John Salmons contract along with a 2015 second-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Lou Williams and the rights to Brazilian rookie Lucas (Bebe) Nogueira. Ujiri admitted the re-signing of Vasquez, and the acquisition of Williams, were moves to protect the long-term health of Lowry. "Hundred per cent in our game plan because hes signed here for four years," said Ujiri. "Theres going to be lots of games and we have to think about that. We have to think of his body and the load of work. Greivis will take a good load off of (Kyle) and so will Lou." As for future signings, Ujiri doesnt believe he has much left. "In terms of signings I think we only have one more spot," he said. "Were looking to bring Bebe, to sign him, were trying to figure that out and after that, we have one more spot." Lowry has confidence in his general manager. "I believe in Masai, hes going to always make the right decision," Lowry said. "No matter what he did, youve got to support it because his track record is so good." Guy Lapointe Jersey . Kyle Shanahan was hired as offensive co-ordinator Monday after spending the previous four years in the same role with the Washington Redskins. Max Domi Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. http://www.officialcanadiensfanstore.com/authentic-dickie-moore-canadiens-jersey/ . After not scoring 40 points in the opening quarter in the last five seasons, the Rockets have done it five times this season and twice in the last three games.HOUSTON -- On a day when he had everything going, the only thing that frustrated Minnesota pitcher Kyle Gibson was he had to leave the game. The Twins right-hander was dominant in a 3-1 win against the Houston Astros, allowing six hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings on Wednesday. Gibson, who struck out four and walked two, took a shutout into the eighth before Chris Carter drove home Jose Altuve with s single. "Its never too frustrating when you win a game but I definitely wanted it thats for sure," Gibson said. "That last inning I knew every pitch was important to keep the pitch count down and be able to go back out there for the ninth. "That infield single that just didnt get hit hard enough and a bloop that just didnt get hit hard enough cost me the opportunity." Gibson (11-9) was well under 100 pitches going into the inning and nursing a 3-0 lead thanks to a sixth inning home run by Joe Mauer and a two-run RBI single in the seventh by Kennys Vargas. "I was sitting right there with him," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "I said If he gets through the eighth inning under 100 pitches we let him go back out there and take a shot at it. Hes earned that. Unfortunately they got a run on him and we had to get him out of there. I was thinking right along with him. I thought he was in control of the game." Mauer gave Gibson some cushion when he hit a 2-2 pitch into the right field bullpen in the sixth inning to break up a scoreless tie. Mauer, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a first inning single, drove the Brett Oberholtzer (4-8) pitch on a line to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. "Id like to have that back," Oberholtzer said of the pitch Mauer hit out. "Hindsightts 20-20 but its a two-two count and I challenge there with nobody on to start the inning and he made me pay for it. Victor Mete Jersey. " Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 30th save of the season. Oberholtzer pitched well over seven innings. The left-hander allowed six hits and struck out four. "Oberholtzer threw the ball well, "Astros manager Bo Porter said. "He did a tremendous job, and offensively we didnt swing the bats. So he ends up being the tough luck loser." TRAINERS ROOM Astros: First baseman Jesus Guzman will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Guzman was placed on the 15-day disabled list August 3rd with back spasms. Twins: Ricky Nolasco is on schedule to make his first start since going on the disabled list July 8th after a second successful rehab outing August 10th. Gardenhire said after the game that right-hander Anthony Swarzak sprained his ankle on the last pitch of Tuesday 10-4 Astros win. The manager said the pitcher is day-to-day. UP NEXT Astros: Scott Feldman will look to extend his August win streak to three against Boston Thursday against Red Sox right-hander Allen Webster. Twins: After two rehab starts, Nolasco is scheduled to come off the disabled list Friday to face Kansas City and will be looking for his third win against the Royals in 2014. MAUER AND OBERHOLTZER CONTINUE STREAKS Mauers hitting streak is one shy of his career high of 16. Oberholtzers streak of quality starts is four. FOWLER RETURNS TO LINEUP Dexter Fowler was back in the Astros lineup for the first time since June 26th and went 1-for-4 with a walk and a single. The club optioned Domingo Santana to Triple-A to make room for his return. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '