“It was a difficult decision for me,” Salmons said on Wednesday. “I had a couple options on the table. I just felt like it was a thing where I relied on my faith. I felt it wasn’t the place for me to be at the time. I hope the fans don’t hold it against me. I felt like it was something I had to do because of my faith. That’s what it was.”
It was the best time of my life. As far as the NBA, that’s all (Toronto) I know. I come in early in the morning. I eat. I work out. … That is my home, everyday playing there. It’s Toronto. I wouldn’t change it. The fans were great. The people were great. The city was great. I had great teammates. It was a great start to my career. Everything happens for a reason. But I’m just glad I was able to start my career in Toronto. … I’ve got great tweets and [messages] on my Instagram post, and I didn’t even play. That says a lot.
How the newest Toronto Raptors found out they had been traded | National Post
“My phone was blowing up left and right — friends, people on the team, my agent is calling me,” Patterson said. “I answer it as I’m going into the theatre, and he tells me about the trade and how I’ve been traded and everything. I’m like, ‘Yo, I’ll call you back in about 2½ hours, I’m taking my mom into a movie.’ So I literally found out like five minutes before the movie.”
Raptors’ four new players arrive in town for practice | Toronto Sun
“I think they’re a high basketball IQ (group),” Casey said. “We met with them for a long time, going over all of our defensive schemes, offensive schemes. They understand, they’ve been around the block a few times so that’ll help to mix them in with our guys. The hard part is getting the chemistry, the timing, understand where guys like the ball, those types of things so that will take some time but the veteran play will help.”
Is Greivis Vasquez the Raptors Next Jose Calderon? | Pro Bball Report
Vasquez got off to a slower start in the NBA, but in his third season, he started 78 games for the Hornets (now Pelicans) and averaged 13.9 points and 9 assists. His shooting steadily improved to 43.3 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three-point range, but still had room to get better. This year, he has been shooting 49 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and 93.8 percent at the free throw line providing some evidence that the improvement has continued. His impressive assist rate of 44.9 percent in his third season was actually higher than Calderon’s at the same age.
Why are all the pundits pushing Kyle Lowry out of town? | Raptors Rapture
If I’m Masai, here’s what I do – nothing. The Gay trade happened well in advance of the trade deadline of February 20, which allows sufficient time for the new-look Raps to develop some chemistry. If that happens, let’s enjoy the ride. If not, c’est la vie; there’s lots of time to shop Kyle. A contending team which loses its point guard to injury might well be prepared to pony up a high price for Lowry.
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