The trade is not yet done, but there's a lot of talk about the Rockets sending Kyle Lowry to the Raptors for a protected future first round pick. I thought that it would be unlikely that the Rockets would part with Lowry until they secured another PG of their own, but if this report holds water, the Raptors may have been able to upgrade their PG/backup PG spot. -- Edit -- Gary Forbes seems to have been traded over to Houston as part of the deal

As if things couldn't get tighter for the Raptors, they now see Goran Dragic nailed down by the Phoenix Suns to a verbal agreement for a 4 year deal worth $34 Million. This may severely limit the Raptors in talks to get Kyle Lowry from the Rockets unless the rumours surrounding Houston come to fruition and they end up signing Jeremy Lin. The Suns also reached an agreement with Michael Beasley last night.

After all the Knicks talk, ESPN's Mark Stein is reporting that Steve Nash is heading to the Lakers. It's a three-year deal that nets him considerably less than what the Raptors were willing to pay. But he gets to stay close to his three children in Phoenix. Despite spurning the Raps, Nash remains our greatest basketball export. Please don't boo the man for doing right by himself and his family. I'll step off my soapbox now...

A 3 year deal worth $20 Million with a spike in the 3rd year. ESPN reports that Landry Fields has reached a verbal agreement to an offer sheet. The Knicks will have 3 days after the deal is signed on July 11th to match the deal since Fields is a Restricted Free Agent.

I personally hope not, I find it hard to believe he has no trade value at all.

Around the 33 minute mark, Bill Simmons, Joe House and Chad Ford have a conversation about the Raptors. They share some thoughts on the Raptor's first round, Jonas Valanciunas and Steve Nashing coming to Toronto.

im curious, and first month is bound to be their best trying to impress us.....with free returns, why not? anyone else willing? have any thoughts?

Heisley acknowledged that no player on the roster can be deemed "untouchable." But he insisted that it would take an extraordinary offer, which includes a star player clearly better than Gay, to pique the Grizzlies’ interest. Bargnani is the only Raptors star player that is better than Gay. LOL

Jonas Valanciunas has started negotiations on the release agreement with his team in Lithuania, sources said, an important step in the 2011 lottery pick finally being able to join the Raptors. While it has been expected all along that Valanciunas would be in the NBA in 2012-13 after a final season in his native country, news of talks with Lietuvos Rytas are a comforting development for Toronto fans who missed having their center of the future in 2011-12. The release agreement is part of the process before Valanciunas can pay the $2.4-million buyout to the team in Lithuania and sign in Toronto. The Raptors are allowed to pay $550,000 of that.