TORONTO - After auditioning roughly 60 prospects, including nine Canadians, in 11 sessions spanning over nine workout days this spring, the Toronto Raptors are putting the finishing touches on their wish list heading into Thursdays NBA Draft. DeShone Kizer Packers Jersey . For most of the last week, Masai Ujiri and his scouting staff have been mulling over 10 targets they anticipate will be available with the 20th overall pick, their first of three selections, hoping to narrow that list down to five by Tuesday. With three days to go, does he have someone in mind? "Hes around like the back here," said the former scout, gesturing to the back of his head just before the Raptors concluded their final pre-draft workout Monday afternoon. "But he hasnt made it to the front yet. Hes working his way." No, Ujiri wont tip his hand, not with so many variables at play. Fourteen teams occupy the 19 slots that precede the Raptors and will determine who is available to them. They have a list of about 13 players that are expected to be off the board by the time Toronto is on the clock. The pick will be Ujiris first as Torontos primary decision maker - the Raptors did not have a selection in last years draft - and should immediately put his keen eye for talent to the test. Since Ujiri took control of the Raptors, a franchise that has mostly been accustomed to selecting in the lottery, he has emphasized the importance of drafting well regardless of where youre situated in both the first and second rounds. For only the third time in franchise history, and first in 12 years, the Raptors are positioned outside the top 19 in the drafts opening round. Although its not an advantageous spot to find cant miss, NBA-ready talent, history has shown it can be done. In 2000, with the 20th overall pick - the teams lowest ever first-round selection - they found one of their best and most reliable contributors in long-time Raptor Morris Peterson. In 2011, then with the Nuggets, Ujiri used the 22nd pick to snag emerging forward Kenneth Faried. As Ujiri knows, the key is preparation aided by a little bit of luck and the subsequent development that is required to turn a late first-round pick into an impact player at the games highest level. "Its a huge bonus," Ujiri said of finding a diamond in the rough on draft night. "You look at the programs that have done well in the NBA, they just strike with picks like that. Its takes constant study, and really knowing players, believing in players and a system." "I think a big thing is you kind of have to be realistic on the expectations of the players," added Dan Tolzman, Torontos director of scouting, who was also a member of Ujiris front office staff in Denver. "I think everyone wants to find those diamonds and the guys that will be all-stars and MVPs and this and that but those guys are pretty hard to find outside of the lottery and the top-five even." "So I think the idea is if you can find guys at 20 or 37 or wherever that have careers," he continued, "that are eight-year players and theyre role players on your team and theyre doing good things to help you win, thats a successful draft pick. You might get lucky and hit a guy thats going to be a big time contributor and hes pushing for all-stars and that kind of thing, but thats not really what youre looking for when youre outside of the top-five or the top-10." Over the last four weeks, the Raptors brass have seen around a dozen players that figure to be selected in the latter half of the first round, or early in the second. According to team sources, there are roughly five prospects of interest that were either unable or unwilling to come in for a workout. While the workouts are not the be all and end all - the team has scouted them all in live action - they can go a long way in getting the coaching staff and trainers on board with a potential pick. Should a player fall to them unexpectedly, Ujiri will keep his options open and hasnt ruled out the possibility of trading up, if the price is right. Still, the focus is on making their make at 20. "Those trades and talks, people dont understand," said the Raptors GM. "We talk about like maybe 100 trades and then two happen. Thats the nature of our business. We will be aggressive but our energy is focused on 20, rather than wasting our time on [something else]." In addition to their first-round pick, the Raptors also own a pair of second rounders, 37 and 59 - the second to last pick in the draft. Regardless of whether or not theyre able to address their needs in the draft, Ujiri has prioritized his offseason to-do list. "We need a big wing at the three position," he said. "We [also] need some kind of shot blocking big. We have good, skilled bigs, we have a shooting big, we have a big down low, but we want to figure out how we can protect the rim a little bit. That may come now, it may come later but its something we know we need on our roster. So those two positions look like something we need." His top priority has not changed. "Were going full force after Kyle Lowry," Ujiri said, speaking of the teams coveted free agent point guard. "And if theres a talented point guard in the draft we know that its going to be tough to come and contribute to where our team is off the bat, but well go for talent in the draft. But Kyle Lowry is our target and well try to get that done." In just over a week, the Raptors - and other teams for that matter - can begin negotiating with Lowry, unable to officially sign him or announce a deal until the moratorium period ends on July 10. Until then the focus will be on the draft, one of the most chaotic events on the basketball calendar and an invaluable opportunity to add young talent, provided youre well prepared for it. The Raptors have done their homework. "I was walking into the conference room where our guys were meeting and I was like okay, no news that will throw me off right now," Ujiri joked. "Because you know its going to keep coming. There will be something tonight and something else tomorrow morning. Thats just the nature of the draft. I heard something yesterday that threw us off a little bit. But it will keep coming and coming and coming until that last minute. Thats the joy of it, I mean you love it. Thats why we do it. There is always action. As long as we come out on top, then were fine." Jimmy Graham Packers Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a course-record 10-under 62 on Wednesday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Tramon Williams Jersey . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Josh-Jackson-Packers-Jersey/ . The former Edmonton Oilers defenceman was with the St. Louis Blues in training camp on a professional tryout. Whitney, 30, had four goals and 13 points in 34 games with the Oilers last season.CHICAGO -- Nick Swishers power surge has been a boost for Cleveland as the Indians try for their first post-season berth since 2007. Swisher homered from both sides of the plate for the 13th time during the Indians 7-1 win against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday night. Swisher tied the major league record set by former New York Yankees teammate Mark Teixeira, and the Indians pulled within a half-game of Tampa Bay and Texas in the AL wild-card race. "The way things are kind of going down the stretch, youve got to step your game up in situations like this," Swisher said. "Seasons like this dont come around very often. We have a chance to make it into the playoffs and thats what were doing." Slowed by injuries earlier this season, Swisher has five home runs in 13 games during September. Batting right-handed against starter Chris Sale, Swisher homered off the left-hander leading off a four-run sixth. Asdrubal Cabreras three-run homer made it 6-0. Switching around to the left-hand side against right-hander Ramon Troncoso in the ninth, Swisher hit his 20th home run of the season. Swisher has 20 career multihomer games. "Its pretty cool having a major league record for something," Swisher said. "I dont care what its for. Just to have that especially to share that with my boy Mark Teixeira who I love dearly, its just crazy. It just happens to be a lucky day." In a game that started after a rain delay of 4 hours, 23 minutes, the Indians achieved a franchise first by sweeping a four-game series from the White Sox for the third time in a season. Next up is a three-game series at Kansas City, which is three games back of Cleveland. Zach McAllister (8-9) allowed one run and six hits in 6 2-3 innings with five strikeouts and a walk. Last-place Chicago has lost six in a row, and at 58-91 is 33 games under .500 for the first time since finishing 1976 with a 64-97 record, according to STATS. Sale (11-13) gave up six runs and nine hits -- including three homers -- in 5 2-3 innings and dropped to 6-11 following a 5-2 start. He has an 88. DeShone Kizer Jersey. 61 ERA in 23 innings against the Indians this season. "I thought Zachs stuff today was probably as good as weve seen," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He had velocity with his fastball and some power to it and he commanded it in and out very well." Matt Carson put Cleveland ahead in the second with an RBI single, starting only the second three-hit game of his major league career. His solo homer in the fifth was his first home run since Sept. 26, 2010, for Oakland. Carson said he watched NFL games during the lengthy delay, which helped calm his nerves ahead of his first start of the season. "Its definitely been awhile, but to do it in a game like this it was a really good feeling," Carson said of his home run. Josh Phegley singled in a run for the White Sox in the seventh. "It was a combination of who youre using and how they were swinging, so right now were kind of in that rut were not scoring," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. NOTES: The White Sox have not been 34 games under .500 since finishing 1970 at 56-106, according to STATS. ... The 12 consecutive losses against Cleveland ties the White Sox record for most against one opponent, set against the Boston Red Sox from Aug. 5, 1921, to May 15, 1922. ... Chicago CF Avisail Garcia was scratched from the starting lineup to be with his pregnant wife. Leury Garcia replaced him. ... The White Sox offered fans with tickets to Sundays game a free ticket to an April 2014 home game excluding opening day and the series against Boston (April 15-17). ... Indians manager Terry Francona hasnt been able to determine why reliever Vinnie Pestano has struggled this season. Pestano has a career-high 4.19 ERA, allowing 35 hits in 34 1-3 innings. "I dont know if you can pinpoint one, weve tried so hard to figure it out, how do we make it better, thats the goal," Francona said. "I think its the lack of finish on his fastball, think hes tried to find that. Its probably cost him some location. Its been tough, I know hes frustrated." Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '