TORONTO - For many, it would have already become an elephant in the room, an awkward matter best ignored. Elfrid Payton Jersey . For Kyle Lowry, its become an accepted reality. He will be traded. The question is, when and where? The Raptors point guard is widely believed to be next on general manager Masai Ujiris chopping block after the first domino - Rudy Gay, Lowrys best friend - fell last week. On Thursday, multiple outlets - namely ESPN and Yahoo Sports - linked Lowry to trade discussion with a number of interested teams, including the Knicks and the Nets. A day later, as the Raptors got set to host the road-weary 76ers, the easy answer for Lowry would have been none at all. He could have brushed off the reports, spouted off cliches or dodged the media all together. But he did no such thing. "Honestly, I started hearing [the rumours] once I left here for practice [Thursday] and then it was crazy for, like, four hours," he said Friday morning. "At night, I turned my phone off and went to sleep. I wake up, if Im traded, Im traded and if not, Ill come to shootaround." "Everybody read everything yesterday, seen everything yesterday. To this point, Im still a Raptor and Im focused on tonight, playing against the 76ers." Moving Lowry, who was acquired by the previous regime prior to last season, has become a priority for Ujiri. Averaging 14.6 points and 6.7 assists through 20 games, Lowry - owed $6.2 million this year - will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and its clear he is not part of the Raptors long-term plans. Lowry has not been in contact with Ujiri regarding his future and doesnt plan to reach out. "If he trades me, then Ill talk to him," Lowry said. "Hes always been a GM thats been kind of in the background. Hes not in the forefront, he lets us play and thats how hes been this whole year." Although one report stated that hes wanted to be moved for most of the season, Lowry clarified that he has not asked the Raptors GM for a trade. "No, none whatsoever," said coach Dwane Casey, asked if Lowry has expressed a desire to be traded. "Thats the first Ive heard of that and Ive never heard of Kyle or sensed Kyle wanted to be traded at all. I have no knowledge of that." While the market for Gay was limited, leading to Sundays sudden seven-player deal with Sacramento, theres far more interest in Lowry and his affordable, expiring contract. With that in mind, Ujiri will not be rushed into moving his starting point guard. Lowry is a professional and has obvious motivation to continue playing hard, auditioning for his next contract, but his inevitable departure is an obvious distraction to him and the rest of the team. "Yeah of course, I mean no one can say it doesnt [weigh on them] but at the same time, you have to know that this is a business," he stated. "You have to know the situation you are in, the situation that youre going to be in. You cant let it affect you too much because you still have to go out here and do a job and try to win for the team youre playing for." He and his teammates are trying their best to approach the seemingly uncomfortable situation with a sense of humour. "We all read HoopsHype," he admitted with a smirk on his face. "You see it everyday, you see it whenever they update it and everyone talks about it. But we joke about it a little bit. We make it more of a lighter-type thing, dont make it a heavy-hearted thing, make it like a joke, like hey man, you still here?" For now and until Ujiri finds an offer he likes, Lowry remains a Raptor. He will continue to play and play hard, because its the right thing to do but mostly because its in his best interest. All the while, his eventual replacement and newly-acquired point guard Greivis Vasquez will back him up and even spend some time alongside him in the Raptors backcourt. The situation is what it is. It will be as awkward as the team allows it be, until - in the very near future - its dealt with, until speculation finally becomes reality. Until then, we wait and so does the team and its point guard. JJ Redick Jersey . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue. Jameer Nelson Jersey . Lineup news, Fantasy tips and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES Blake Comeau – The Penguins winger had a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win against Toronto. https://www.cheapmagiconline.com/1048i-josh-magette-jersey-magic.html .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams.MILAN, Italy -- Bayern Munich opened the defence of its Champions League title with a comfortable 3-0 win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick as Real Madrid thrashed Galatasaray 6-1. David Alaba gave Bayern a perfect start in the fourth minute, with further goals from Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben ensuring a winning start. "I could hear from fans today, Finale, Finale, but lets keep our feet on the ground. We need to go step by step," Robben said. "Its early in the season. The most important thing is to concentrate on ourselves, improve as we go on. It was a good start." Bayerns Group D rivals Manchester City beat Viktoria Plzen by the same scoreline. Ronaldo stole the attention for Madrid, while two-time Italian champion Juventus came from behind to draw 1-1 at Copenhagen in the other Group B match. Wayne Rooney proved he is back to his best following a summer of upheaval as he scored twice to help Manchester United to a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk won 2-0 at Real Sociedad. In Group C, Paris Saint-Germain crushed Olympiakos 4-1 and Benfica beat Anderlecht 2-0. Bayern, which appointed Pep Guardiola as coach after claiming an unprecedented treble last season, was rarely troubled by the Russian league leader. Alaba gave the German champions an early lead with a free kick into the left side of the goal after being fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Mandzukic, who had earlier hit the post, headed home Robbens in-swinging free kick to double Bayerns advantage in the 41st minute. Robben sealed the result in the 68th, blasting home Alabas ball over the defence. Bayern is attempting to become the first club since 1990 to defend the European Cup. Manchester City matched Bayern thanks to second-half goals from Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. Real Madrid is bidding for a first Champions League trophy since 2002, and it sent out a warning sign to its rivals with a resounding victory in Turkey. "The match was good and the result fantastic," coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "After Iscos goal the match became simpler. We defended well and when Benzema and Cristian Ronaldo have a good night on the counterattack, its easy, even though winning in this stadium is not easy." There was plenty of attention for Gareth Bale as he made his Champions League debut for Madrid in the second half. But it was Ronaldo -- the player Bale usurped as the worlds most expensive footballer -- who was the star of the night. Francisco "Isco" Alarcon oopened the scoring after 33 minutes and Karim Benzema went on to strike twice during a second half in which Ronaldo was unstoppable. Grant Hill Jersey. The former Manchester United player scored Madrids third in the 63rd and doubled his tally three minutes later. Ronaldo completed his hat trick in stoppage time, capping a brilliant night for him and his team by weaving past three Galatasaray defenders before smashing the ball into the back of the net. It was Ronaldos second Champions League hat trick and a fitting way for him to celebrate signing a new contract with Madrid. Juventus will have a hard time beating Madrid to top spot in the group and it got off to a difficult start in Denmark. Antonio Contes side was stunned when Nicolai Jorgensen fired Copenhagen in front in the 14th minute, beating Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from close range after Pierre Bengtssons free kick. Fabio Quagliarella levelled nine minutes after halftime. Manchester United manager Moyes has limited experience in the competition, having lost both qualifying matches back in 2005 when in charge of Everton. Rooney, still wearing a thick, black headband to cover a deep gash to his forehead sustained in a training ground collision, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Simon Rolfes equalized against the run of play for Leverkusen in the 54th but Robin van Persie restored Uniteds lead five minutes later. Rooney then scored his 200th goal for United in all competitions before setting up Valencia following a quick counterattack for the winger to fizz a low shot in at the near post. "Ive concentrated on working hard to get my head down, to get myself fit and ready for the season," Rooney said. "Im delighted with the way Ive come back and delighted Im back playing and scoring goals. "Its great the reception I get here and hopefully I can repay (the fans) with performances and goals like tonight." Omer Toprak poked in a close-range consolation goal for Leverkusen two minutes from time. Alex Teixeira struck twice in the second half to give Shakhtar Donetsk a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in Group A. In Greece, Edinson Cavani opened the scoring for PSG in the 19th minute but Vladimir Weiss levelled six minutes later, weaving past three defenders for an impressive solo effort. However, Thiago Motta headed in two second-half goals and Marquinios completed the scoring in the 86th. Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a late penalty for the French champions. Filip Djuricic and Luisao scored goals in the first half-hour to help Benfica to victory. ' ' '