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." Margus Hunt Colts Jersey . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. Darius Leonard Youth Jersey . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro.com/Bobby-okereke-colts-jersey/ . - Tom Brady was upset that his New England Patriots hardly looked like a division champion in the first half. Pat McAfee Youth Jersey . Will Venable and Ryan Ludwick drove in a run each for the Padres, who have taken six of their last seven contests and clinched their third straight series win after winning the first two in this set. Clayton Richard (4-9) allowed five hits and a pair of runs over seven innings, while fanning five. Peyton Manning Colts Jersey . Keenum will make his first appearance in a regular-season game against the rugged defence of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where the fans just set a Guinness record as the noisiest outdoor stadium in the world.REGINA - The identity of the Saskatchewan Roughriders offence will not change, regardless who starts at quarterback.The main ingredient in our offence is the same as it always has been — running the ball, said running back Anthony Allen. Thats what gets everything going. It opens up everything else in our offence, so we have to stick to that moving forward.The Riders will have Kerry Joseph under centre for the fourth consecutive game Sunday when they take on the Edmonton Eskimos in the West semifinal at Commonwealth Stadium.Saskatchewan has used three different starters at quarterback since incumbent Darian Durant was lost to a torn tendon in his right elbow on Sept. 7. But no matter who has replaced him, the teams rushing game has been strong.The Riders posted the third-best rushing offence in the CFL this season and averaged 132 yards per game. Allen led the club with 930 yards on the ground, second to league leader Jon Cornish of Calgary (1,082 yards).The first-year tailback likely would have eclipsed the 1,000-yard milestone had he not missed two of the Riders final three regular-season games.With a healthy Allen running behind a solid offensive line, the Riders are poised to keep the pressure on against the host Eskimos. Saskatchewan tallied 194 rushing yards when these teams met a week ago in the regular-season finale at Mosaic Stadium, a game the Riders won 24-17.Allen led the way with a game-high 81 yards on 13 carries and newcomer Steven Miller provided a boost with 71 yards on 11 rushes.I go in there and I wear them down, I break them down and make guys tired, Allen explained in a recent interview. And then Steve can come in and slash through them and take off for 30 or 40 yards, maybe farther than that. Its definitely good for both of us having some fresh legs in there to change it up a bit.However, the Riders strength in running the ball could play into the hands of the two remaining teams in the West.dddddddddddd The Eskimos and the Calgary Stampeders were among the top three run defences in the CFL, with the Eskimos ranked second with 96 yards allowed per contest.Calgary was nearly as stingy with 99 rushing yards allowed.(Edmonton) has a great defence and because itll be the fourth time playing them this year, both coaches are very defensive-minded guys, were both very familiar with each other … its going to be like fighting your brother, Allen said. Its going to be a war out there.The Eskimos are no slouches when it comes to pounding the ball on the ground. Just ask Riders linebacker Brian Peters, who had a first-hand look at Edmontons running attack.The last time the Riders visited Commonwealth (Sept. 26), the home team rushed for 300 yards, led by John Whites 192-yard effort. Quarterback Mike Reilly also broke the 100-yard mark in that game.Thats a shot to your pride, Peters said. When you dont play to your expectation and your pride kicks in and that game left a sour taste in our mouths. Were more than ready to get rid of it and put in a better effort.Edmonton ranked second overall in the league in rushing yards per game (137) and third overall in passing yards (246). Though Matt Nichols is expected to start at quarterback in place of a limping Reilly, Peters doesnt see a change at quarterback making much of a difference.Reilly might be a little more mobile back there than what Nichols has shown us, but they dont really change much when it comes to schemes, he said. Obviously, the weather is a lot colder now and when that happens you can probably expect to see both teams run the ball a little more.But that all depends on the flow of the game and how the defences respond to the run. ' ' '