Dein erstes Forum » an intriguing Brazilian prospect

TORONTO - In a trade intended to maximize the value of a player, and contract, already on the way out, the Toronto Raptors swapped the partially guaranteed deal of veteran forward John Salmons to the Atlanta Hawks for guard Lou Williams and seven-foot prospect Lucas "Bebe" Nogueira, the team announced Monday evening. Rob Gronkowski Youth Jersey . Toronto will also send a 2015 second-round pick to Atlanta in the deal. Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri had been shopping Salmons and his cap-friendly contract through last weeks draft, hoping to turn him into an asset that can help the team next season. The 34-year-old can be bought out of the $7 million hes owed in 2014-15, the final year of his deal, for just $1 million if hes waived prior to Monday evening. Toronto was planing to cut Salmons prior to that deadline if a suitable trade could not be found. The Hawks are sure to do the same, saving $6 million in the process and adding to the cap space theyll have at their disposal this summer. Entering the final year of a reasonable contract that will pay him just south of $5.5 million next season, Williams is a low-risk gamble for the Raptors, hoping to add depth and scoring off their bench. One of the NBAs premier reserves when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers, the 27-year-old Williams has struggled to regain his form following surgery to repair a torn ACL in 2013. Williams averaged a career-best 14.9 points in his seventh and final campaign with the 76ers before signing with the Hawks as a free agent in 2012, sustaining the injury midway through his initial season in Atlanta. The nine-year vet appeared in 60 games last year, recording 10.4 points, his lowest mark since 2006-07. Another year removed from serious knee surgery, the hope for Toronto is that the 6-foot-2 combo guard can provide instant offence off the bench and bolster the teams depleted second unit. The Raptors ranked 27th in bench scoring a year ago. Although the acquisition of Williams shouldnt impact the future of soon-to-be free agent Kyle Lowry, as hes not considered to be a true point guard, the versatile scorer gives Toronto another option in the backcourt if Lowry or last years backup Greivis Vasquez are not retained. The move jives with Ujiris repeated philosophy of winning now while continuing to accumulate assets and build for the future. Although the Raptors should flirt with the luxury tax this coming season, assuming they re-sign Lowry, Vasquez and Patrick Patterson, they were not expected to be big players in this offseasons free agent market anyway and with Williams contract set to expire theyll still have significant cap space to work with in the summer of 2015. Ujiri had targeted Nogueira, an intriguing Brazilian prospect, in the 2013 draft but was unable to obtain a pick. Nogueira was selected 16th overall by the Boston Celtics and flipped to the Hawks before spending last season in the Spanish ACB League. The 21-year-old has one year left on his contract in Spain and its unknown whether hell be permitted to join his countrymen Bruno Caboclo in Toronto this season. Like Caboclo, Nogueira is very raw offensively and needs to get stronger to compete in the NBA but he has strong potential as a shot blocker, addressing one of the Raptors primary needs. Salmons was acquired from Sacramento in Decembers seven-player trade involving Rudy Gay, averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 60 with the Raptors. The 12-year vet was a big part of Torontos initial post-trade success and became a fixture in Dwane Caseys rotation thanks to his defence and leadership. He struggled with a lingering back ailment and inconsistent shooting late in the season and fell out of favour as the Raptors made their playoff run in April. Raptors forward Tyler Hansbrough had a similar clause in his contract, permitting Toronto to waive him for $1 million this weekend. However, they opted to pick up their team option and keep him around for the final year of his deal, which will pay him roughly $3.3 million in 2014-15. If waived, the savings on Hansbroughs deal would have been minimal, as they would have used the bulk of it to pay a replacement. The 28-year-old averaged 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first year with the Raptors, seeing decreased playing after the arrival of Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. He figures to return as the fourth or fifth big man in Caseys rotation. Jarrett Stidham Jersey . When a game is in the balance, however, they still have the personnel and the experience to end up with the two points. Drew Bledsoe Jersey . Marie rink got back in the win column at the Olympic mens curling tournament with a 7-4 win over the host Russian squad on Wednesday. https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Jarrett-Stidham-Inverted-Jersey/ . The San Antonio Spurs handled the conditions, and the team, and it sure helped when a suffering LeBron James couldnt make it to the finish.SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Justin Smith may have lost a step or two since his All-America days at Missouri, but theres no denying his desire to compete at a high level in the NFL.The five-time All-Pro defensive lineman is limited at San Francisco 49ers practice during the week but ready at game time. Smith, who turned 35 Tuesday, has recovered from last years shoulder injury.Your eyes go to him as youre watching the game, San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said Friday. Theres just so much energy and aggressiveness, the way he plays the game. He always looks good to me.After four games, Smith is on pace for 12 sacks and 100 tackles.I can use my left arm this year a€” thats a plus, Smith said. I feel good enough with where Im at and what Im doing. Lets keep on trucking.Smith helps keep the 49ers defensive front running smoothly, which often means a choppy road for running backs. San Francisco ranks second in rushing defence, first in the NFC, heading into Sundays game against Kansas City.We just go out, try to compete and do what we do as a unit, Smith said. There are a lot of great running backs and a lot of great lines. We have another big challenge in front of us.Without Aldon Smith in the lineup a€” he has five games remaining on his suspension a€” Justin has managed to keep things together as much with his brain as with his brawn.Ian (Williams) is playing well. Glenn (Dorsey) is playing well, Smith said. Teams have been trying to rrun right at Ian, but hes strong at the point and fast at pass rushing. Sony Michel Patriots Jersey. You can always pass rush better. Week in and week out, you look to take advantage of the protection were getting.Smith left Missouri after setting single-season school records for sacks (11) and tackles for a loss (24). As a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001, he recorded 8 1-2 sacks, a career high he matched in 2010 with the 49ers.Hes currently ranked eighth among active sacks leaders, although numbers cant totally measure his value. Hes also a leader on the field and in the locker room. Teammates say he talks to everybody and lightens up tense moments.If I can get warmed up and moving around, he said, I feel fine.NOTES: OL Jonathan Martin, who also played for Harbaugh at Stanford, was asked about Deion Sanders latest comments about the rift in the 49ers locker room. My reality, day to day, is that this is one of the strongest locker rooms Ive been around, he said. .TE Vernon Davis said theres a small chance he will be able to play Sunday, though he did not practice Friday. Hes listed as questionable along with CB Tramaine Brock (toe), T Anthony Davis (knee) TE Vance McDonald (knee), S Eric Reid (hamstring) and NT Ian Williams (ankle). . C Marcus Martin (knee) is doubtful, while S Antoine Bethea (ankle), WR Michael Crabtree (foot), RB Frank Gore (back), DE Tony Jerod-Eddie (shoulder) and P Andy Lee (ankle) are probable. ' ' '