Forenregeln » Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points

TORONTO - Second chances are rare in life, let alone in the NBA. The Raptors are confident that newly re-acquired forward James Johnson will take advantage of his. In a surprising roster move early Thursday morning, Toronto finalized an agreement to bring back the 27-year-old free agent at a reported $5 million, fully guaranteed, over the next two years. Toronto first acquired Johnson from the Bulls in exchange for a first-round pick (which was used on Heat point guard Norris Cole) during the 2010-11 season. The following campaign was a turbulent one for Johnson as he butted heads with new head coach Dwane Casey over his role in the teams offence, ultimately leading to a late-season benching. That summer, the Raptors flipped Johnson to Sacramento for a second-rounder (used on UConn product DeAndre Daniels last month). He played briefly for the Kings and spent the start of the 2013-14 campaign in the D-League before joining the Memphis Grizzlies and reviving his career, averaging 7.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 52 contests last season. Now, with a winning environment in place and a need at the small forward position, one that Johnson addresses, Casey and the Raptors have put the past behind them, believing the five-year vet will do the same. Having met with Casey, the Raptors are convinced Johnson has matured and recognizes the importance of this opportunity. It could be his last shot. The number one thing with James, and weve had long discussions about that, is his role, Casey told reporters in Las Vegas, where his team is practicing ahead of their upcoming Summer League tournament. He understands that now, which is great. In this business, theres never a person who youll say, Hey, Ill never coach that guy [again]. Hes had his issues in the past, general manager Masai Ujiri reiterated, but havent we all? We will help him get over them and this is a good opportunity for him. He has to take advantage of it. Newly re-signed point guard Kyle Lowry is a good example of what one can accomplish given the chance to redeem themselves. Lowry clashed with Casey over playing time and philosophy during his subpar first season with Toronto before breaking out in a more defined role last year. I think hes grown up, Lowry said of Johnson Thursday morning. You get to the certain point, even myself, you get a maturity level that, it comes with age. I think hes going to be able to understand, listen, Im a lot older, Im more understanding of life and coach isnt going to make me this or make me that. At the end of the day, youre playing for the players, your teammates and the organization. I think coaching him will be fine. They will get along well. Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, a good friend of Johnson, were advocates of bringing him on board. Johnson - a big, versatile, defensive-minded forward - is the type of player the Raptors had been clamouring for and could alleviate some of the pressure from DeRozan and Terrence Ross, who were exposed by Joe Johnson and the Nets wings during their first-round playoff loss. Johnson, as you may recall, is a second-degree black belt, undefeated in seven MMA fights and 20 kickboxing matches. With a 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame, hes sure to strike fear in the eyes of the leagues top perimeter players, assuming he buys into his role as a defensive stopper. When Dave Joerger, Johnsons former coach in Memphis, was asked about the forwards reputation for occasionally trying to do too much on the offensive end, he joked, I just let him do too much. I just say, Go, wreck it, Joerger had told TSN.ca back in December. I think hes changed his body. I think that hes able to sidestep guys, hes able to get by guys with his first and second step and then gather and finish around the rim, where I think maybe earlier in his career - carrying a little bit more weight - he wouldnt get past the first defender. I just think hes a lot quicker. The Wake Forest product appeared in 87 games as a Raptor, starting 51, over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds. Addison Russell Jersey . With the win, the Marlies complete a three-game series sweep of the Admirals and move on to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. T.J. Brennan added an empty netter with less than 25 seconds remaining for his second of the playoffs. Ryne Sandberg Jersey . RAPTORS STRUGGLING: The bottom line is the true test in sports isnt just how you handle failure, but how you handle success. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-greg-maddux-jersey/ . Ferrer, the two-time defending champion in Buenos Aires, is aiming to win his 21st ATP tournament. Ferrer will next face fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, the fourth seed, who defeated Jeremy Chardy of France 7-6 (7), 6-3 in another quarterfinal match. Kerry Wood Jersey .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. Chicago Cubs Jerseys . Almost 40 years to the day, the two teams will meet again, this time at BC Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points for the present.SYDNEY - Top seed and defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland was ousted by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the Sydney International, a key warm-up tournament for the Australian Open. Mattek-Sands, who is back on tour after a four-month layoff because of a right knee injury, lost in the first round in Brisbane last week and had to win three matches just to qualify for the main draw in Sydney. "Very happy with it," Mattek-Sands said. "Ive played her a couple times and Ive never beaten her, so its probably one of the best wins of my career." Radwanska received treatment on her right serving shoulder during last weeks Hopman Cup in Perth and said Tuesday it was still bothering her. "Maybe a little bit, but I have good painkillers," Radwanska said. "Its not a big deal, it should be all right." Mattek-Sands advanced to play fellow American Madison Keys, who defeated Croatian wild-card entry Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0, 3-6, 7-6 (3). Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki was also on the receiving end of an upset, falling to Lucie Safarova 6-4, 7-6 (7). Wozniacki, recently engaged to golfer Rory McIlroy, was up three points in the second-set tiebreaker before allowing Safarova to clinch the match. Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the second seed, had little trouble in the afternoon session, beating American qualifier Christina McHale 6-1, 6-0. Angelique Kerber of Germany was also through to the quarterfinals after beating Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-3 6-4. In mens play at Sydney, seventh-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia defeated Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, Spains Albert Ramos took out American Sam Querrey 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Nicolas Mahut of France beat American Ryan Harrison 7-6 (2), 7-5.dddddddddddd At the ATP tournament at Auckland, New Zealand, American qualifier Donald Young beat Federico Delbonis of Argentina 7-5, 6-2 to set up a showdown with top seed David Ferrer. German Philipp Kohlschreiber, the fifth seed, and Frenchman Benoit Paire, the sixth seed, were also winners. At the Hobart International WTA event, Australian teenager and wild-card entry Storm Sanders beat Chinas Peng Shuai, ranked nearly 200 places ahead of her, 6-2, 6-2. Sanders was only given a wild card when fellow Australian Ashleigh Barty withdrew with a hip injury. American Alison Riske beat Australian Casey Dellacqua 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in another second-round match, while defending champion Elena Vesnina of Russia advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Monica Puig of Puerto Rico. Lleyton Hewitt, meanwhile, withdrew from the Kooyong exhibition tournament in Melbourne, saying he feared playing would harm his preparations for the Australian Open. The veteran Hewitt, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, reclaimed his place as Australias top-ranked player when he won the Brisbane International on Sunday with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 upset victory over Roger Federer. "At the moment its just all about recovery for me," the 32-year-old said. "When you get older it gets a bit tougher than when you were 16." Most of the top players have chosen to take the week off before the years first Grand Slam and are training instead at Melbourne Park. 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