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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." Custom Arizona Diamondbacks Nike Jerseys . Louis second-period goal increased the New York Rangers lead but Dustin Brown has countered for the Los Angeles Kings who now trail the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden. Custom Minnesota Twins Nike Jerseys . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.co...ns-nike-jerseys. The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Custom Baltimore Orioles Nike Jerseys . Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and Washington hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. Custom Chicago Cubs Nike Jerseys . To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters.MONTREAL -- Brendan Gallagher felt a little hard done by the referees. In the final minute of play in Winnipegs 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, Gallagher was roughed up by three different Jets players, preventing him from leaving the offensive zone. With their net empty, and an extra player on the ice for a Canadiens team looking for the equalizer, Gallagher was kept on the wrong side of the blue-line for roughly 20 seconds, keeping his team from entering Winnipegs zone. Gallagher was crosschecked into the net by Zach Bogosian, punched and then elbowed in the head by goaltender Al Montoya in the crease, and then elbowed again by defenceman Jacob Trouba. There was no call on the play. "There could have been five penalties there," said head coach Michel Therrien, who watched the replay before speaking to the media. "Were definitely going to ask the league for explications. Its very frustrating. It could have given us the chance to tie the game." But Montoya, who made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season, wasnt buying any of it, and suggested the Habs forward was doing his best to stay in the zone and draw a penalty. "No. 11?" Montoya asked, apparently not knowing Gallagher by name. "We were all caught up. The referees saw that. They were there. You know he was doing something for a reason." After the game, defenceman Josh Gorges spoke to the press on Gallaghers behalf, calling the five-foot-nine forward too "fired up" and "heated" to address questions about the games final minute. "I have to be careful with what I say," said Gorges. "It was pretty evident they were not allowing him to get out of the zone. He took a punch to the head from the goalie, got tripped up from the defenceman, and the guy coming off the bench gave him another shot." To make matters worse, Gallagher made three trips to the penalty box during the game, for roughing, holding, and tripping. He finished the game with two shots, six penalty-minutes and a minus-1 rating. "I cant comment on how (the referees) feel towards any one individual player," said Gorges. "I dont know if theres a grudge or something. Its too bad." With the game tied at 1-1 going into the third period, Michael Frolik scored the eventual winner at 1:04 after a Winnipeg dump-in was mishandled by netminder Carey Price. Thee Jets captain Andrew Ladd took the puck off Prices stick, and found a streaking Frolik in front of the net.dddddddddddd The Canadiens (29-21-6) kept the pressure on Montoya and the Jets in the final frame, but couldnt benefit from two power plays. Winnipeg held on for their eighth win in 10 games since Paul Maurice took over as head coach on Jan. 12. The Jets (27-25-5) are still in last place in the Central Division, but are only four points off the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg has now won four of its last five on the road, and beat the Canadiens for the first time in seven encounters. "Weve made some pretty big strides," said Maurice. "Theres still a lot to cover. Its what we want our team to look like. We want to define what the Winnipeg Jets game is. And thats going to take a long time to do. "Were big and were fast and were young. And we want to use that. We want to be aggressive with our size and our speed." The Jets benefited from good speed by Tobias Enstrom in the second period when he opened the scoring at 9:13 on a great individual effort. The Winnipeg defenceman carried the puck along the end boards, circled the net and squeezed a shot under Prices glove on the wraparound for his sixth of the year. After hitting two posts in the period, the Canadiens got their equalizer courtesy of a quick release wrister by Brian Gionta at 17:06. While playing 4-on-4 hockey, the Canadiens captain took a pass from Tomas Plekanec on his backhand, quickly switched to the forehand and fired home a sharp shot into the roof of the net. And despite the incident with Gallagher in the dying seconds, Gorges thought the Canadiens shouldnt have left it so late. "Thats not what happened tonight, that wasnt the difference," said Gorges of the altercation. "But it was a frustrating end to the game." Price, playing his second game in as many days, made 33 saves in the loss. NOTES: Michael Bournival was back in the Canadiens lineup after missing Saturdays game with the flu. Christian Thomas dressed for the second straight game, while George Parros was a healthy scratch. a The Jets were without Evander Kane, the teams third-best goal scorer. Hes out with an infection in his hand. a The Canadiens beat the Jets 3-0 in the teams first encounter of the year on Oct. 15, 2013. They do not play again this season. ' ' '