OffTopic » birdies. He also made one bogey on the par-3 ninth

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. 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." Gordon Hayward Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. Shaquille ONeal Jersey .J. -- Rampage Jackson scowled, howled, then bellowed to the crowd: "Im back! Im back!" With rebuilt knees and a new promotion, Jackson might have one more act left in MMA. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-bill-russell-celtics-jersey/ . - Vince Carter, heading into his 17th NBA season, doesnt consider age a big issue anymore. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . Former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds made his longshot request of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit upheld Bonds conviction in September. Kevin Mchale Jersey . I kind of got a taste of being able to pick a suit with the draft lottery, I went with the bow tie.AVONDALE, La. -- If Seung-Yul Noh can hold on to the lead in the Zurich Classic, hell do it front of fans who can appreciate how much bigger Nohs mission is than simply winning his first PGA Tour event. Wearing yellow and black ribbons on his hat to honour victims of the April 16 South Korean ferry accident, Noh used a string of birdies late in his round Saturday to surge two strokes ahead of Keegan Bradley atop the leaderboard. It is Nohs first career lead through three rounds on the tour, and comes in a city where sports -- particularly the success of the NFLs Saints -- became an uplifting force after Hurricane Katrina. Noh finds himself representing -- and captivating -- a nation mourning the more than 300 dead or missing -- many of them students -- from the sinking of a ferry in the waters off his home country. "Hopefully, Ill make all the Korean people happy," Noh said. "It was very sad news for the Korean ship, so hopefully another bogey-free round tomorrow, and hopefully good news for the Koreans." Noh is the first player to complete 54 holes at the TPC Louisiana without a bogey. He shot a 7-under 65 to reach 18-under 198. No player has completed all four rounds on the course at better than 20 under, the score Billy Horschel posted last year, when he became the sixth player in the last nine years to secure his maiden PGA Tour triumph in New Orleans. Noh will try to continue the trend when he tees off in the same group as Bradley, who is no stranger to winning. His three career tour victories include a major in the 2011 PGA Championship. Bradley said he doubted that he would intimidate Noh, but added, "It is definitely hard getting your first win." Bradley began the day tied for seventh at 9 under. He pulled into a tie with Noh for first on No. 15 with his seventh birdie of the day. Then, Noh, who was tied for third at 11 under after two rounds, made birdie putts of 13 feet on 14 and 10 feet on 15 before hitting a 112-yard approach shot to a foot for another birdie on 16, bringing him to 18 under. Bradley also shot 65, making eight birdies. He also made one bogey on the par-3 ninth hole, when his ball landed leftt of the green, rolled down a bulkhead lined with cypress planks and into a water hazard from which alligators have been making routine appearances this week.dddddddddddd It didnt faze him, though. "Im most proud this week of where Ive been mentally on the golf course and how calm Ive felt," Bradley said. "I love being in this position, a couple back going into Sunday. Id like to be a couple in the lead, too, but I love chasing." Robert Streb was third, three shots back after a 68. Paul Caseys 64 was the days best round. He moved up to a tie for seventh with Charley Hoffman at 13 under. Ben Martin, who had a three-shot lead after two rounds, shot a 73 to drop into a tie for fourth with Jeff Overton and Andrew Svoboda at 14 under. Overton shot 67, and Svoboda 70. Noh is in his third year on the tour, but finished outside the top 125 on the money list last season, forcing him to play in Web.com Tour Finals events to retain his tour card. "Very disappointed in the whole season last year," Noh said. "I learned from that time. ... So Im very ready for tomorrow." He had never before been higher on the leaderboard than tied for second through three rounds. That happened once at the 2012 AT&T National, but he shot a 2-over 73 in his final round to finish tied for fourth, his best finish in 77 previous PGA Tour starts. Martin had raced to the lead with a course-record 10-under 62 in his first round, and his 36-hole score of 129 also was a course record. Teeing off with the final group, his trouble began on the par-5 second hole. He pushed his second shot to the right toward the crowd. As Martins father, Jim, yelled, "Fore!" LSU student Cameron Slane turned his body defensively and felt the ball carom off the back of his head and shoulder. The ball kicked to the right and into a cluster of long pampas grass. Martin took a drop and wound up with a bogey. "Thursdays round and today are kind of a 180-degree difference," Martin said. "After Thursday, I wasnt on Cloud 9 and after today Im not in the dumps. So Ive still have a good mindset going into tomorrow." 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