TORONTO - The Raptors final roster decision was always going to be based on need more than anything else, but it proved to be more difficult than anyone in the organization expected. Red Wings Jerseys China . After huddling up following their win in Fridays pre-season finale, Masai Ujiri and Dwane Casey opted to hang onto veteran centre Greg Stiemsma, making him the 15th and final player on their season-opening roster, and subsequently waive forward Jordan Hamilton and guard Will Cherry in the process. Their decision came down to the wire, announced just hours before Saturdays deadline to waive players on non-guaranteed deals. Ujiri and the coaching staff had raved about the performance of all three candidates throughout training camp and as of Friday evening they were still mulling over their options. Its coming down to the wire here, Ujiri had said before hosting the Knicks in Montreal. All of them bring us something, but we have to figure out which piece fits with our team now going forward to the start of the season. By the end of what turned out to be a gruelling camp for the 29-year-old, Stiemsma certainly looked the part of a Casey player. In just his second exhibition contest with the club, he took a hard fall, later failing a baseline concussion test that forced him to sit out the following game. Upon his return to the lineup, the hard working centre took a finger to his eye. Its a roller coaster, he said a few days later, sporting a bump on his head and a bloodshot right eye. It can be up and down, day-to-day but youve just got to try to stay consistent, control the things you can control, worry about those things and then just let the chips fall where they may. The 6-foot-11 Stiemsma was an early favourite in camp, given the teams lack of size off the bench. He spent last season in New Orleans, his third team in three NBA seasons, and now becomes Torontos second oldest player. His game isnt pretty - he committed 20 fouls and scored 15 points in 86 pre-season minutes - but his workmanlike approach and ability to defend the rim, a weakness of Torontos last year, seem to be a good fit in a situational role behind Jonas Valanciunas, Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson, platooning with Tyler Hansbrough and Chuck Hayes. The Raptors hope 22-year-old rookie centre Lucas Nogueira can eventually make an impact as a defender in the low post - he showed some glimpses towards the end of camp - but he still has a ways to go and isnt expected to factor into Caseys rotation this season. Hence the need for Stiemsma. Its all about opportunities, Stiemsma said, hoping to take advantage of this one. This whole league, my whole career has been about opportunities. Ive just got to look at it like, whatever amount of minutes I have is an opportunity to succeed, to play well and to show what I can do. Of the three, Hamilton may have come in facing the steepest battle given the teams talent and depth on the wing, but he had an impressive pre-season, averaging 9.5 points on an efficient 59 per cent shooting. A Summer League standout in the off-season, Cherry was praised for the effort and energy he brought to practice but become expendable once Lou Williams - a combo guard - proved capable of playing the point in a pinch during a strong camp. The Raptors also have Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez, one of the leagues best duos at the position. Its very difficult, Casey said of the decision. Its the hardest thing to do in sport is to bring a guy in and say, hey youre not good enough to make our team, or right nows not a good time. I dont think its ever [that] a guys not good enough. The timing may be bad for whoever it is. All three guys are NBA players that we brought in this year. Over the years, thats the hardest thing to do is bring a guy in and have that talk. I hate it because I know how hard guys work. I know how dreams are made and I know how dreams are broken. Im always an optimist. I love that guy at the end of the bench, whos worked and scrapped trying to make his career. Stitched Red Wings Jerseys .com) - A pair of Eastern Conference rivals will meet on Saturday as D. Wholesale Red Wings Jerseys .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. https://www.cheapredwings.com/ . The NFLs Defensive Rookie of the Year will be named at the NFL Honours Award show on February 1. The 23-year-old 2013 second-rounder out of Oregon becomes the third Bills linebacker to win the honour after Jim Haslett (1979) and Shane Conlan (1987. SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. 1 pick again, and this time, they took a pitcher polished beyond his years. California high school left-hander Brady Aiken was the first selection in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday night. "Its the most advanced high school pitcher Ive ever seen in my entire career," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "He has command like Ive never seen before of his stuff." The 17-year-old from San Diegos Cathedral Catholic High School is just the third prep pitcher to be selected first overall, joining fellow lefties Brien Taylor (1991, Yankees) and David Clyde (1973, Rangers). The Miami Marlins made it the first time high school pitchers were the top two picks in the draft when they selected Tyler Kolek, a hard-throwing right-hander from Shepherd High School in Texas. Twenty pitchers were taken in the first round, tying the draft record set in 2001. The Astros are the first team to select first in three consecutive drafts, having picked shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012 and right-hander Mark Appel last year. Aiken is in line to receive a huge contract. The allotted slot bonus for the top pick is nearly $8 million. "Unbelievable. Its really a dream come true," Aiken said. "This is something that Ive wanted ever since I was a young kid. Im at a loss for words. This is my dream and its finally starting to come true." Aiken is also the first high school lefty to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore in 2002. The UCLA recruit, who compared himself to Clayton Kershaw and David Price, has terrific control of a fastball that hits 96-97 mph, a knee-buckling curve and a tough changeup that sits in the low- to mid-80s. The 6-foot-5 Kolek has a fastball that sits in the high-90s and touched 100-102 mph several times, causing many to compare him to fellow Texas flamethrowers such as Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett. "How do you pass up a guy throwing 100?" Marlins manager Mike Redmond said after Miamis 11-6 win at Tampa Bay. "So, Im happy with the pick. Its a big, old, country strong right-hander." The Chicago White Sox selected North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon with the third overall pick. The 6-3, 235-pound junior was widely regarded as the top college pitcher available and had been in the mix to go No. 1 overall. He followed a dominant sophomore year with a solid but not spectacular junior season. Indiana slugger Kyle Schwarber went No. 4 overall to the Chicago Cubs as the first position player selected. He is a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the best catcher in Division I, although he could move to third base or the outfield in the pros. "Well let that play out," Cubs senior vice-president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod said. Nick Gordon, the son of former big league pitcher Tom Gordon and brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, went fifth overall to Minnesota. The Florida high school slick-fielding shortstop was the first of the seven prospects in attendance at MLB Network Studios to have his name called by Commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring in January and presiding over the draft for the final time. After a few interviews, Gordon breathed a big sigh of relief and gave his father a hhuge hug. Detroit Red Wings Shirts. "This is a proud moment. Its hard to describe," Tom Gordon said. "I have nothing but pride and pure joy for my boys." Gordon, from Orlandos Olympia High School, also has some family bragging rights now: His father was a sixth-rounder by Kansas City in 1986, while his brother was a fourth-rounder by Los Angeles in 2008. "Were pretty much the same player," Nick Gordon said of the brothers. "You know, hes got a little bit more speed than I do, Ive got a little bit more pop than he does. But, you know, we model our game after each other." A few other players followed in the footsteps of famous family members. Wichita State first baseman Casey Gillaspie went 20th overall to Tampa Bay, 17 spots ahead of where his brother Conor, the White Soxs third baseman, was picked in 2008. "I cant really compare myself to him because hes in the big leagues," Casey said. "It was cool when it happened, but now Im just ready and focused." San Francisco outfielder Bradley Zimmer was taken 21st by Cleveland. His brother, Kyle, was the fifth overall pick by Kansas City in 2012. With the next pick, Detroit took California high school outfielder Derek Hill, whose father Orsino was a first-rounder in January 1982 and is now a scout for the Dodgers. California high school catcher Alex Jackson went sixth to Seattle, which intends to move him to the outfield. "Ive been playing multiple positions my whole life," Jackson said. "Its nothing extra ordinary that has been thrown my way. Im looking forward to getting out there competing." LSU righty Aaron Nola was the seventh overall selection by Philadelphia. Evansville lefty Kyle Freeland, a Colorado native, went No. 8 to the Rockies and said hes used to pitching in the thin Denver air and isnt afraid of it. East Carolina right-hander Jeff Hoffman went ninth to Toronto, which also took Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost two picks later. The New York Mets rounded out the top 10 picks by selecting Oregon State outfielder Michael Conforto. In the year of Tommy John surgery in baseball, two pitchers who recently had the operation were selected in the first 18 picks -- a sign that teams are confident in the success rate of the procedure. Even though theyll likely be sidelined for 12-18 months, Hoffman and UNLV righty Erick Fedde (No. 18 to Washington) remained attractive prospects. Vanderbilt righty Tyler Beede was the 14th overall pick by San Francisco, becoming the 18th player in draft history to be selected in the first round of two June drafts. He went 21st to Toronto in 2011. St. Louis wrapped up the first round of the draft, which is held over three days and 40 rounds, by selecting California high school righty Jack Flaherty at No. 34 -- seven picks after taking Florida State right-hander Luke Weaver. Gareth Morgan, from Toronto, was the first Canadian selected this year. The right-handed outfielder was drafted out of Blyth Academy by the Seattle Mariners, 74th overall. "Im honoured that the Mariners selected me and its also very special to be the first Canadian to be taken in the draft," said Morgan from his home in Toronto where he was following the draft with his family. "I have worked very hard throughout my career for this moment and Im excited for what the future holds." ' ' '