“You know players in this league. I’m not going to go out there and just give the ball away. ‘Here, you score,’” Vasquez said. “I want to go out there and compete. Whether we win or lose at the end of the day, you want to feel like you gave everything. I was in New Orleans. We lost a lot of games. But we played the right way. We competed the right way. That’s how it is sometimes.”
Lewenberg: Vasquez here to win, whether you like it or not | TSN
“I’m tired of losing,” Vasquez proclaimed, shortly after his first practice in Toronto Thursday afternoon. “I think winning just feels so much better. I’m not looking be an all-star or anything else like that, right now I’m just looking at how I can help my team.” “It’s all about fit and I think I fit in here.”
James Dolan blocks Knicks deal for Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry | NY Daily News
“Dolan didn’t want to get fleeced again by Masai,” was how one Knicks source put it. “They had a deal ready.”
Can Masai Ujiri Punk James Dolan Again in Potential Lowry Deal? | Bleacher Report
Knicks owner Jim Dolan is sensitive to the public perception that Toronto general manger Masai Ujiri bamboozled New York in the Carmelo Anthony trade, and the chance of getting panned for giving up too much in a deal for Lowry has become a hurdle in these talks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Report: Raptors Discussing Lowry for Felton Trade With Knicks? | Raptors HQ
On the outset, can’t say I’m a fan of this proposal and tough to see how Masai Ujiri would pull the trigger on this without additional assets. Sure, Felton likely helps the tank, but he’s on the hook for another year after this one, and has a player option on a third year. Not exactly the definition of “increasing cap flexibility.”
Lots of interest in Raptors’ Kyle Lowry: Report | Toronto Sun
The Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors were also said to be interested, although any details of trade participants were few and far between. Yahoo was reporting a Toronto interest in Bojan Bogdanovic, a 24-year-old shooting guard playing in Europe, whose rights are owned by the Nets.
Kyle Lowry trade rumors surface; Knicks and Nets rumored destinations | Sheridan Hoops
Felton is out for 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury, and he has two years left on his contract for $3.8 million and $3.95 million (player option). Plus, he’s not that good — and Toronto just waived a point guard, D.J. Augustin, who is not that good. Also, Toronto acquired Greivis Vasquez from Sacramento in the Rudy Gay trade, and they’ll likely find a way to keep him if the price is not too high (Vasquez will be a restricted free agent in July). Ujiri already dealt for Felton once when he was with Denver and engineered the Carmelo Anthony trade, so the postulation here is that he is not all that enamored of Felton.
NBA Preview – Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors – Dec 13, 2013 | CBSSports.com
A slew of new faces will try to help the Toronto Raptors turn around a sluggish stretch. The Philadelphia 76ers would like to begin altering one of their own, and solving their turnover issues could help. The Raptors are expected to have four new additions available Friday night when they attempt to win for the second time in eight tries against the 76ers.
Chuck Hayes’ Toronto Raptors debut on hold due to baseline cardiac test | National Post
When negotiating a contract in 2011, Hayes displayed an abnormality during a test. Ultimately, doctors cleared Hayes to play, but the Raptors just want to make sure Hayes is still OK to suit up for the Raptors on a regular basis.
Raptors’ Chuck Hayes needs to see doctor before he can play with team | Toronto Sun
“Chuck Hayes can’t go yet until he has his baseline cardiac testing with the Cleveland Clinic,” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. “The doctor that does that is out of town. He can’t do that until Monday.”
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