FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS 1. KYLE LOWRY (Raptors): This is great news for Raps fans. He was in a nice spot with demand from other teams and he cashed in quite well. Bottom line, market value sets the price point and its the cost of doing business. Hes the heart and soul of their team and was an important guy to keep, mission accomplished. This is an important point to consider - the fact that he makes more money doesnt mean hes going to be an even better player than he was last year. Its a tough thing for players who sign big deals; they feel they need to live up to the money and contract. Realistically, if he can provide them what he did last season on a consistent basis and stay healthy the next three to four years - where do I sign up? Good get even if the money is a tad bit high but again its all about right place and right time for Lowry and for the Raptors. Its a deal that makes both good basketball and organizational sense. I love the addition of Patrick Patterson as a restricted free agent to the mix as well. Hes a good young player whose best days lie ahead for him. His perimeter shooting, defence, rebounding and overall toughness are a good piece for this group. Obviously, he ended up being for the Raps what Andrea Bargnani was supposed to be yet at a much more reasonable price. Good deal. Hopefully Greivis Vasquez gets done soon as well. Fingers crossed. Off to a nice start though. Masai Ujiris surely has planned his work and is working his plan. 2. BEN GORDON (Magic): What a Country! I cant believe he got a two-year deal, even if whole money amount isnt guaranteed. Im sure if former Detroit Pistons president, Joe Dumars is walking on a beach this summer thinking about the moves that cost him his job; this guy and Charlie Villaneuvas deals are right at the top of the list. He gets another chance to resuscitate his career with Magic but Im skeptical of this one. 3. SHAUN LIVINGSTON (Warriors): Im happy for him. Hes battled back from major injury in his career and hes not the player he once was in his early Clippers days, but he has reinvented himself and thats a testament to his work ethic and character. Hes a dependable pro and plays the game hard and right. Hell be a nice mature addition to Coach Steve Kerrs locker room. 4 LeBRON JAMES (Heat): Pat Rileys has to be sweating a bit here. So far no luck attracting the other pieces to compliment the King and hes evaluating his options as he should. He is legitimate by the contract he and the heat negotiated in good faith. Who knows how it will all work out with him and even a guy like Carmelo Anthony. Bottom line, guys want to get paid at the highest level as well as the mid and lower tier players. Your sales pitch as a team beyond winning is still how much cap space do you have and what percentage of it am I getting? 5. NO STATE INCOME TAX: You hear this all the time about states like Texas and Florida, that their free agent pitches have a built in competitive advantage. Heres my question; in cap-centric leagues like the NBA, NHL and NFL, I wonder why this loophole wouldnt be closed. In my opinion, the cap is set up to level the playing field and teams in states that have a distinct advantage with the net income equation have the upper hand. Not sure if this has ever been considered but my thought is based upon this advantage - why dont the leagues set the cap based upon what the money means on the back end in net income per team, so its equal. In 98 per cent of the cases youre dealing with players that are in the highest taxable tax bracket in their state or Country, so why not do the research and base the cap number (which is equal) to the after tax value in each market and even the cap that way. Again, Im not sure if its ever been discussed or if it even makes any sense, Im just thinking out loud. Its probably too complicated an issue to work on but for the life of me I cant tell you why those teams in tax friendly states gain a major advantage. Its an issue for minds much greater than mine (not saying much there!) to figure out. Probably a wasted thought but thats what Im here for! Have a GREAT weekend! Tomas Nosek Golden Knights Jersey . The result was a game-winning, power-play goal. Chiasson snapped a third-period tie and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory on Monday night. Nate Schmidt Jersey . The Toronto Blue Jays star won his second consecutive Hank Aaron Award as the most outstanding offensive performer in the AL on Monday after votes by fans and a panel of Hall of Famers were tallied. http://www.authenticgoldenknightsproshop...knights-jersey/. LOUIS -- To stay a step ahead of goaltenders, T. Oscar Dansk Golden Knights Jersey . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux. Custom Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys .com) - Ryan Johansens creative moves and hometown appeal highlighted Team Folignos successful night at the NHL All- Star Skills Competition.PHOENIX -- Troy Tulowitzki had a rough start to Colorados road trip. The way he hits the ball, no chance it was going to last very long. Tulowitzki homered, had two doubles and drove in three runs to lead the big-hitting Colorado Rockies to an 8-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night. "Hes one of the best players in baseball, so you expect that," Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. Led by Tulowitzki, baseballs best offence roughed up Wade Miley (2-3) for seven extra-base hits in the first six innings, including a pair of homers. Tulowitzki, who went 1 for 12 in a three-game series against the Dodgers, doubled in each of his first two at-bats and led off sixth with his sixth homer. Justin Morneau added a two-run shot later in the inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and Nolan Arenado had one of Colorados six doubles to stretch his hitting streak to a baseball-best 18 games. The Rockies had 12 hits overall, eight of those for extra bases. Franklin Morales (3-1) allowed four runs in five innings and LaTroy Hawkins worked a perfect ninth for his eighth straight save. "We played good offensive baseball tonight," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Tulo had a (great) night and we played well offensively." It made for a rough night for the Diamondbacks. Arizona had the hitting. Gerardo Parra homered, Miguel Montero drove in two runs and Paul Goldschmidt had three of the Diamondbacks 10 hits. They just couldnt overcome Mileys rough start, losing their third straight since a three-game winning streak. "They are a good-hitting ball club," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "They are hard to contain. You have to make good pitches on them." After some early-season struggles, Arizona had gotten four straight quality outings from its starters, who had allowed four earned runs in the previous 26 innings. The Diamondbackks only won two of those, but it was a step in the right direction.dddddddddddd Miley had a hard time keeping it going against the baseball-bashing Rockies. Colorado, which entered with a majors-best .294 team average, knocked around the left-hander from the start, racking up five doubles in the first four innings. Gonzalez had the first one, driving in a run in the first inning before being thrown out trying to stretch to a triple. Tulowitzki had a two-run two-bagger in the third inning and Jordan Pacheco drove in another run with a double in the fourth. After Tulowitzkis lead-off homer in the fifth inning, Morneau made it 7-4 with a two-run shot to the pool deck in right-centre. "It was weird. Feeling-wise I felt really good tonight," Miley said. "Those guys are swinging well right now and I didnt get the job done. It was on me." Miley allowed seven runs on 10 hits for his first lost (7-1) in 10 career games against the Rockies. The Diamondbacks tried to keep up against Morales. Parra hit a solo homer in the second inning, and Arizona added two more runs in the third on Monteros sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single by Aaron Hill. Goldschmidt tied the game at 4-all on a groundout in the fourth. Morales allowed seven hits. Arizona cut the lead to 7-5 on Monteros run-scoring single in the seventh inning, but Charlie Blackmon made it a three-run lead again with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. NOTES: The Diamondbacks have a team-record 239 strikeouts the first two months of the season after striking out seven against Colorado. ... Carlos Gonzalez is 2 for 19 during the Rockies four-game road trip after going 1 for 5 against the Diamondbacks. ... Arizona RHP Mike Bolsinger will start Tuesday against Colorado after earning his first win in the majors against the Cubs on Thursday. He will face Colorado RHP Tyler Chatwood, who is 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA in three games against Arizona. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '