Die Anpflanzler [DA] » Of the three, Hamilton may

TORONTO - As far as training camps go, this years has been a relatively quiet and uneventful edition for the Toronto Raptors, not that they mind. Valuing continuity over the summer, theyve avoided the excitement that tends to surround teams with high or notable turnover entering a new campaign (see: Cavaliers, Cleveland). 10 of the 14 players under guaranteed contract for this coming season are holdovers from last years division-winning club. Everyone who scored a point during their seven-game playoff series, save for John Salmons, is back. Once again, theyve had the benefit of good health (Amir Johnson suffered a minor foot injury in Fridays pre-season win, but returned to practice Monday), and Dwane Caseys rotation should look familiar, more or less, when it takes shape over the next 10 days. Theres just one decision left to be made. Who will claim the 15th and final spot on the Raptors roster when they open the season on Oct. 29? Toronto has three players in camp, all on non-guaranteed deals, vying for the job; hard working centre Greg Stiemsma, sharpshooting forward Jordan Hamilton and speedy point guard Will Cherry. NBA rosters must be set for opening day on Oct. 27, meaning the Raptors will have to make their final cuts - ultimately determining who stays on - by Noon et. Saturday and Casey doesnt anticipate making a decision until then. Ill tell you what, its going to be a difficult decision, the Raptors head coach admitted, speaking after practice Monday afternoon. All three guys have done something special. The coaching staff has raved about their contribution throughout camp and with each player standing out, to some degree, during the teams 5-1 start to the pre-season, theyve made strong cases for themselves to stay. Its a good problem to have, Casey said, because that means that we brought guys in that fit what we do and fit into our program. [Cherry] has played hard in practice and worked [Kyle Lowry] hard, he added. He hasnt had a chance to show a lot in games because we were experimenting with [Lou Williams] at the point. [Stiemsma] has done an excellent job in spots and then [Hamilton] has scored the ball at a high level. So all [three] guys have brought something special to the table and all three are NBA players in their own right. The Raptors were in a similar situation at this time a year ago, with three players - two guards and a forward - battling it out for one spot. In the end it went to Julyan Stone, the better defender and most versatile of the group. Unlike last year though, these three candidates play three different positions and as a result the decision could come down to whichever one addresses a more pressing need on the roster. The 6-foot-11 Stiemsma looked like an early favourite, and that still may be the case given the teams lack of size off the bench. The 29-year-old spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans, his third team in three NBA seasons, and would become Torontos second oldest player, should he make the team. His game isnt pretty - hes committed 16 fouls and scored just nine points in 65 pre-season minutes - but his workmanlike approach and ability to defend the rim, a weakness of Torontos last year, seem to be a good fit in a situational role behind Jonas Valanciunas, Johnson and Patrick Patterson, platooning with Tyler Hansbrough and Chuck Hayes. Its all about opportunities, Stiemsma said, hoping to take advantage of this one. This whole league, my whole career has been about opportunities. Ive just got to look at it like, whatever amount of minutes I have is an opportunity to succeed, to play well and to show what I can do. Its a roller coaster. It can be up and down, day-to-day, but youve just got to try to stay consistent, control the things you can control, worry about those things and then just let the chips fall where they may. Of the three, Hamilton may have come in facing the steepest battle given the teams talent and depth on the wing, but hes had an impressive pre-season averaging 10.4 points on an efficient 63 per cent shooting. Hes knocked down five of his eight attempts from three-point range and logged over 20 minutes in half of Torontos six pre-season contests, also standing out on the defensive end. Hamilton, 24, also has the better NBA resume. After a mid-season trade sent him from Denver - where he spent his first two years - to Houston, Hamilton played nearly 17 minutes a night and made 39 per cent of his three-point tries. He also has a history with Masai Ujiri - the Raptors GM acquired him in a draft-night deal back when Ujiri was with the Nuggets, after Hamilton was selected 26th overall in 2011. As Casey alluded to, Cherry has seen less playing time, appearing in just four pre-season games. A Summer League standout in the off-season, most of the praise hes received comes from the effort and energy hes brought to practice. His disadvantage may be inexperience at the NBA level. He spent last season playing for the Canton Charge of the D-League, where he averaged 11.6 points and 4.5 assists in 18 games. The fate of Cherry will likely be determined by the coaching staffs confidence in Lowrys health and Williams ability to play - and most importantly, defend - the point guard position in a pinch. Although the Raptors could conceivably keep two of the three and cut one of their own, that scenario is very unlikely. Like Stone a year ago, whomever does win the job wont be anything more than insurance at the end of the bench for a team with playoff aspirations. Barring injuries, they shouldnt be a factor in Caseys regular rotation and it would set them back financially to waive someone under guaranteed contract. As for the decision itself, Casey says it will be a collaborative process this coming weekend. Its always a good debate with the coaching staff and management, he said. Theres a lot involved, [a lot of] voices as far as who stays and who doesnt in those situations. We have a great line of communication with the front office, with [Ujiri] and [Jeff Weltman, VP of basketball operations], and we talk all the time as far as players [go]. They know exactly how we feel and we know how they feel, so its a team effort. The three players contending for that final gig will likely have one last opportunity to make their case on the court, as Casey will continue monitoring the minutes of his regulars during Wednesdays exhibition game at home to Maccabi Haifa before shifting to a more fixed rotation in Fridays pre-season finale. DeVondre Campbell Jersey . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling. Steve Bartkowski Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.officialatlantafalconsfootball.com/authentic-austin-hooper-jersey-womens . The Italian football federation announced the appointment, three days after new president Carlo Tavecchio was elected. Tavecchio and Conte spoke on the phone early Thursday. Takkarist McKinley Jersey . It was a move of some time in the making. “He hasnt thrown well, clearly some guys are being used more than him right now and the only way to get out of this funk is to pitch,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. Justin Hardy Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with defensive lineman Israel Idonije and are bringing him back for a second stint.It appears Washington Capitals forward Mikhail Grabovski has already found somewhere to play - its just not with a hockey team. According to a report from Belarus-1 TV, Grabovski has signed a deal to play soccer with Krumkachy Minsk, a club in Belarus second league. Chairman of Krumkachy, Denis Shunto, said Grabovski willl start playing for the team in late July.dddddddddddd The 30-year-old, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, is using the soccer stint as a way to keep in shape over the off-season. With the Capitals last year, Grabovski tallied 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 58 games. Cheap Throwback Baseball Detroit Tigers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Colorado Rockies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Houston Astros Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Kansas City Royals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Miami Marlins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Mets Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Yankees Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Oakland Athletics Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Francisco Giants Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Seattle Mariners Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Texas Rangers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Washington Nationals Jerseys ' ' '