TORONTO - For only the third time in the franchises 20-year-history, and first since 2002, the Raptors are slated to select outside of the top 19 in the first round of Thursdays NBA Draft. Eduardo Herrera Jersey . A year ago, as newly appointed general manager Masai Ujiri bided his time and sat out of a lacklustre 2013 draft, this scenario seemed highly improbable. The Raptors, like every other team in the association, had at least one eye on this years rookie crop, one of the most highly touted and eagerly anticipated ever to enter the league. The rest is history. Ujiris team overachieved in his first year on the job and as a result, they will miss out on this drafts biggest prizes: hometown phenom Andrew Wiggins, NBA ready star Jabari Parker, the intriguing Australian Dante Exum and, depending on your aversion to risk, Joel Embiid. Even so, their reality doesnt sound half bad. Instead, they find themselves nearing the end of an extensive pre-draft process, intending to add a complimentary piece to their winning program. This is not a bad year to be in such an advantageous position. Although Ujiri has called this draft "a little overrated", its one with solid depth specifically at the wing positions, one of Torontos most glaring needs heading into next season. Provided the Raptors hang onto the 20th overall pick, as expected, they will hope to hit a home run although they wont necessarily be swinging for one. Their philosophy throughout this process, one that has seen them audition roughly 60 prospects over the last four weeks, has been consistent with Ujiris management style. As always, hes ambitious albeit realistic and well prepared while knowing full well hell have to roll with the punches. And on draft day, specifically what figures to be one of the most eventful and unpredictable in recent memory, there will be more than a few punches to roll with. "Its a huge process for us," Ujiri acknowledged just ahead of the teams final pre-draft workout Monday afternoon. "It just builds and builds and builds. Hopefully by [Tuesday], Wednesday morning, well have gathered all the information that we have." "And theyll mess it up with a trade or something," he joked. Indeed, the Raptors are at the mercy of the 14 teams that occupy the 19 slots ahead of them. So much of this is a poker game, only the guys youre playing with, 29 other executives, are not sitting across from you at the table. The "homework" that Ujiri references is far more involved than just player scouting but also anticipating the motives of every other team, which will ultimately determine who is available to them at 20. Thats the biggest challenge. Its feasible to look at the Bulls, slated to draft 19th overall, and their roster to determine who or what they might be targeting with their pick. Accounting for a possible trade, an unknown team with unknown interests moving up, is not so simple. So Ujiri and his staff have put together their wish list. On Monday, it was 10 players long, as the draft approaches it figures to be cut in half. Theyll weigh the pros and cons, ranking each prospect while keeping a keen eye on the ones that could fall to them unexpectedly. "Our mindset is we get the best guy, best talent available and we try to do our homework as much as we can," Ujiri said. "Weve done our homework on the top guys because you never know what can come up in the next couple days. Our job is to do our homework. We really have to be prepared for this draft." Among the 60 or so prospects the Raptors have brought in over 11 workout sessions this month, theyve seen about a dozen that figure to be selected somewhere between the middle of the first round to the beginning of the second. Here are a few names that may interest them should they be available at No. 20. Tyler Ennis - PG, Syracuse, freshmanLast years stats: 12.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals When the Brampton-native auditioned in Toronto as part of the Raptors first workout crop this spring, it seemed like a pipe dream to think he could fall to his hometown team at 20. At worst, Ennis was believed to be a lock to go in the top half of the opening round. Since then, his stock seems to have dropped, a likely result of fellow prospect point guards Elfrid Payton and Shabazz Napier rising up draft boards. The correlation is understandable, though its hardly an indictment on the NBA player Ennis could become. The qualities that make the 19-year-old such an intriguing prospect wont necessarily jump out at you in a workout. While Payton and Napier are probably quicker, flashier and more athletic players, Ennis is still considered to be the best pure point guard in the draft. Hes a natural leader with a nose for the game, something that is evident on the court in live action more so than in drills or smaller scrimmages. He has a fan in the Raptors, who have been tracking his progress for a long time. "From what Ive seen, hes very poised, he plays very calm and thats the first thing I noticed," Ujiri said ahead of his workout in Toronto. "[He] can get his teammates involved and then when he needs to score, he takes care of business which I think is a good trait to have as an NBA player." The Raptors top priority is re-signing Kyle Lowry, they also have to make a decision regarding Greivis Vasquez, a restricted free agent, but Ujiri has made it clear he intends to select the best player available, regardless of position. If Ennis name is on the board, Canadian angle aside, they would have a hard time passing up on him as Lowrys back-up or possible insurance should the incumbent go elsewhere. K.J. McDaniels - SF, Clemson, juniorLast years stats: 17.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 1.1 steals Given his elite athleticism and upside as a lockdown defender at one of the NBAs most crucial positions, its hard to fathom why McDaniels is routinely overlooked in this draft. With each year at Clemson, accompanied by increased playing time, McDaniels has expanded his game and appears to be well on his way to becoming an impact rotation player in NBA. Questions surround his offensive versatility, efficiency and whether or not hell be able to knock down the NBA three with consistency. Still, with his athletic gifts, size and commitment to defence, he would be a welcomed addition to Dwane Caseys roster. "I think hes a dynamic player," Dan Tolzman, the Raptors director of scouting, said earlier this month. "Its hard to see how good he is in this [workout] setting because in five-on-five, with help-side defense, thats where he flourishes. I think with the way the spacing in the NBA is, rotations and defensive principles are so important. A guy like him, he can fly in from the wing and get blocks off the board like nothing. I think plays like that, thats what gets guys time in the NBA." Kyle Anderson - G/SF, UCLA, sophomoreLast years stats: 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists Not only is Anderson the most unique player in this draft but hes poised to become one of the most unique in the association. The 20-year-old wont blow you away with speed or athleticism but he has a tremendous command of and vision for the game, a point guard in a 6-foot-8 body with a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan. The question is, where will he play in the league and what position will he guard? Although, in todays position-less NBA, it doesnt seem to matter all that much. "I think he can definitely play the point, I think its the defending the point thats the thing," Tolzman said of Anderson. "So many point guards are scoring guys now. So that means you have six-foot, 6-1, 6-2 guys on the floor who are just there to score and then youd have a guy like Kyle who is on the floor to do the actual running the team at the point. And on offence that sets up fine but then on defence you can just switch men." Outside of their point guards, the Raptors dont have anyone that can handle the ball and initiate the offence in a pinch. Although it may be more of a challenge to fit Anderson into your system than, say an athlete like McDaniels, there is undeniable value in having a player that combines size, versatility and court vision, something that made Boris Diaw such an integral part of the Spurs championship run. "Hes the definition of versatility, really," Tolzman added. "I mean that guy, he can play just about every position on the floor. Just the pace that he plays at and the level of IQ that he plays with and the composure that he shows when handling the ball its at NBA level, no question. Hes like a throw-back player to the fullest. Hes an old school-type guy." Others to keep an eye on: Wichita State forward Cleanthony Early, Swiss forward/centre Clint Capela, Michigan State power forward Adreian Payne, Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes, Missouri guard Jordan Clarkson. Andres Guardado Jersey . -- Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died. Julio Dominguez Jersey . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamshop.com/jesus-manuel-corona-mexico-jersey/ .com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.Luke Donald feels his game is on an upward path as he again demonstrated his liking for Wentworth with an opening 68 at the BMW PGA Championship. Donald, who became only the second player after Colin Montgomerie to win back-to-back titles at the West Course in 2011 and 2012, carded three birdies on each nine while blotting his card at the ninth and 15th to lie three shots behind early leaders Scott Hend and YE Yang.The 38-year-old enjoyed an encouraging run of form after missing out on The Masters and was in contention in the latter stages of both the RBC Heritage and the Valero Texas Open, although he missed the halfway cut in his last outing at The Players Championship. Luke Donald carded six birdies in his opening 68 But a return to Wentworth has galvanised the Englishman this week, and he has a great record in the European Tours flagship event after getting off to a strong start.If you look at just history, if Im playing well the first round, it usually means good things for the rest of the tournament, said Donald, who will be tournament host for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at The Grove in October. Donald is climbing back up the world rankings after showing some good form in April Its nice to get off to a really solid start. I hit a lot of good shots out there, and I was really happy with that round. Obviously past success helps, having a lot of good memories to feed off of. Since the changes here, the course has seemed to favour my game a little bit more, and Ive enjoyed some really strong finishes over the last few years. Certainly the last year or two have been tough, tough times, where I struggled to gain that confidence and feel comfortable. But it seems like the last couple months, Im getting more and more comfortable the better I play, and its nice to see some good results go with that. I feel like I am on the upward path. Meanwhile, Shane Lowry was delighted to bounce back from a poor coouple of holes as two late birdies got him back to three under par. Carlos Salcedo Jersey. .The Irishman followed a faultless, outward 32 with another birdie at the 12th, but he dropped a shot at the next and a wayward tee-shot at the short 14th kicked off a cart path and went out of bounds as he ran up a double-bogey five.But Lowry, who was tied for sixth last year after finishing runner-up to Rory McIlroy in 2014, got back on track with a birdie at the tough 15th before another at the last lifted his spirits. Shane Lowry was keen to take the positives from his opening-round 69 at the BMW PGA Championship It was good, I played nicely, said Lowry. I had a bit of a slip-up in the middle of the round but I really bounced back well. Birdieing 15 and 18 was big for me, especially that putt on the last. Had I shot 70, I would have been a little disappointed because of the way I played. But yeah, Im pretty happy.I do like it around here. Ive said that I love coming here, and its my favourite tournament of the year. We get looked after really well, and the golf course, I love it. It was nice crowds this morning, as well, and its just a really enjoyable week. Also See: Donald aiming for Ryder recall Beemer the caddie Watch online Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2018 Cheap Jerseys 2019 NFL Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '