TORONTO - When Masai Ujiri and the Raptors called to inquire about the services of free agent point guard D.J. Augustin, a player they had been monitoring since the signing period began, his stock was lower than it had been at any point during his five-year NBA career. Augustin had been a starter in the league -- albeit for a mostly terrible Bobcats club -- and his eight-month stint with the 49-win Pacers, a Conference finalist, should have theoretically increased the 25-year-olds value. But it didnt. "I think he went from a starting point guard [in Charlotte] to playing some kind of a [smaller] role in Indiana," Ujiri said of Augustin, who averaged career lows of 4.7 points and 2.2 assists, playing just 16 minutes per night in 76 regular season contests with the Pacers last year. "Sometimes guys struggle to find their feet that way." Despite appearing in 19 postseason games and earning the first playoff win of his pro career, 2012-13 was a campaign Augustin will happily put behind him. After putting up a career best 14.4 points to go along with 6.1 assists with the Bobcats in 2010-11, Augustin took a step backwards the following season when he battled knee injuries en route to signing a one-year deal in Indiana last summer. Playing back-up minutes behind George Hill he shot just 35 per cent from the field and occasionally fell out of favour in Frank Vogels defence-first system. For Ujiri, Augustins consistency -- or lack thereof -- was what stood out looking back at last season. The fit, as he put it, was never right for Augustin in Indiana but that wasnt enough to scare the Raptors general manager away from giving him another opportunity to get his career back on track. "Thats the past and were trying to create a new beginning for him here," Ujiri explained after Augustin was signed and introduced at the Air Canada Centre Monday afternoon. "Were taking a chance," he continued. "One year, and well see how it goes." The Raptors are taking a chance that Augustin can provide leadership off the bench as that young veteran they coveted. Theyre taking the chance he can become a more efficient shooter, addressing a glaring need for the club, while taking pressure off starter Kyle Lowry. Theyre chancing that he will bounce back, which would grant them another asset to work with, something from nothing so to speak. Signed for one year, at a reported $1.2 million price tag (via Yahoo! Sports), Toronto assumes little risk in adding a player that could pay dividends if he performs. "Hes still young, still trying to find his feet in the NBA and find stability so Im sure hell find a way to figure it out," Ujiri said. "Hes been a starting point guard in the NBA. [He] struggled a little bit at times last year but [hes] a good outside shooter for the most part and he can run a team. We like that about him." Augustin has impressed at every level he has played. A star in high school, Augustin went on to earn first-team All-American honours and first-team All-Big 12 honours during his two-year collegiate career at the University of Texas. He was drafted ninth overall by Charlotte in 2008 and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team following his first pro season. He comes to Toronto on his second consecutive one-year deal, presumably with something to prove. "Yeah its hard," the Raptors point guard admitted, "but were all playing basketball and making money, no matter what amount it is, its what we love to do and Im very blessed to be doing this as a job." "The NBAs a business," he said. "Youve just got to represent yourself well. Its a job, youve got to take every day serious[ly] and go practice hard, play hard and things will work out." HAPPY WITH SUMMER LEAGUE, HAPPIER ITS OVER Toronto wrapped up its involvement in this summers Las Vegas Summer League tournament on Saturday after being eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals of the events revamped format. "We grind through it," Ujiri said of his teams experience in the Summer League this past week. "We start making a list of players were going to watch in the future and we analyze the players that played for us and see how they did. So I think it was very productive." More than anything else, Ujiri was elated to escape the tournament without any serious injuries to the teams key roster pieces. The most important of those players, soon-to-be sophomore Jonas Valanciunas, sat out of Saturdays game with a sprained left index finger although the extent of the injury is believed to be minor. For many, Valanciunas was the revelation of Summer League. His overpowering strength on both ends combined with a wide array of post moves and pump fakes drew league-wide praise throughout the competition. In four games, Valanciunas averaged 18.8 points (fourth in the Summer League) and 10.0 rebounds (fifth) on 56 per cent shooting. "He made good progress and hes an ever-willing kid to learn and plays hard," Ujiri said of Valanciunas. "Its not very easy to find that in big guys so were happy with his progress and I think hell continue [to work] very hard over the summer." Terrence Ross, the Raptors eighth overall pick in 2012, earned mixed reviews after a series of underwhelming and passive performances. "Up and down a little bit," was Ujiris assessment of Ross in Vegas. "Were excited about teaching him the game [and] see[ing] where it goes from there. Hes obviously very athletic, hes got good shooting abilities [but] we feel he needs to attack the rim a little bit more [and] get to the free throw line." "I think it was a good experience just to see him play games and hes one of those types of players that will probably get better playing with even better players. A little bit inconsistent but were satisfied and were happy he got that experience." Recently signed point guard Dwight Buycks appeared in three games for Toronto, impressing Ujiri with his quickness and ability to get into the lane. Without any NBA experience under his belt, Buycks is expected to enter training camp third on the depth chart behind Lowry and Augustin but could earn playing time as a result of his unique skill set. "They complement [each other] because Dwight will pick up full court, hes aggressive, hes got very good speed but hes yet to do it on an NBA court so we had to find a little bit experience and balance it out." FILLING OUT THE ROSTER Although Ujiri is still looking to put the finishing touches on the roster, its unlikely that the team will make any more major acquisitions prior to the start of the season. Following the Augustin signing, Torontos roster stands at 14 and still includes forward Quentin Richardson, whose status remains uncertain. No decision has been made regarding Richardson, who was acquired from New York earlier this month in the Andrea Bargnani trade, but he is not expected to remain with the club heading into the season. Ujiri indicated that the team may have interest in adding another wing player but would likely address that need with an inexpensive training camp invitee. One option could be athletic forward Chris Wright, who was a member of the Raptors Summer League team and attended camp with the team last season. The Raptors may choose to go into the season with fewer than the maximum, 15 players on their roster. COACHING STAFF IN PLACE Ujiri confirmed that Dwane Caseys coaching staff is set and an official announcement should be made over the next few days. Bill Bayno and Rockets assistant Jesse Mermuys are expected to join the already appointed Nick Nurse on Caseys staff this season. Tom Sterner and John Townsend will return to the Raptors bench. The team is still waiting for a resolution to be completed between Bayno and the Timberwolves, his former team, before making the hirings official. "Were all set, were all good," Ujiri insisted. "No announcement has been made because you want to pay respect to the other teams and make sure everything is done the right way. Cheap Jerseys . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Wholesale Jerseys . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. CHICAGO -- Put Yadier Molina down for four more hits. Four RBIs, too. Add another clutch hit to Allen Craigs total. The majors last game before the All-Star break sure had a familiar feel for the St. Louis Cardinals. Molina hit a three-run homer in St. Louis four-run ninth inning, and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 10-6 on Sunday night. "We never give up," Molina said. "Whatever happens in the game or the inning before were going to come after you." Craig lined a tiebreaking RBI single into left field before Molina drove an 0-2 pitch from Kevin Gregg (2-2) over the wall in left for his seventh homer. Pete Kozma added three hits and two RBIs as St. Louis finished with a season-high 21 hits. Chicago went up 4-3 on Darwin Barneys three-run homer off Adam Wainwright in the sixth, and pinch hitter Cody Ransom had a tying two-run double in the eighth. But the Cubs bullpen was unable to hold off the NLs highest-scoring team. "Obviously we lost, but I mean we showed a lot of fight," Barney said. "We showed maybe what kind of character we have in those kind of games." The Cardinals won for the seventh time in nine games to salvage a split of the four-game series. Edward Mujica (2-1) had his second blown save opportunity in 28 chances, but managed to get the win on the same day he was chosen to replace Wainwright on the NL All-Star team. Despite injuries to key pitchers Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte, St. Louis heads to the All-Star break with baseballs best record at 57-36. It leads the NL Central by one game over surprising Pittsburgh, which lost 4-2 to the New York Mets earlier in the day. "I cant express how proud I am the way these guys play the game," manager Mike Matheny said. "It was a very fitting way to end before the break." A big reason for St. Louis success is the play of Craig and Molina, who are both headed to New York for Tuesday nights game at Citi Field. Craig is batting .489 (44 for 90) with runners in scoring position and leads the team with 74 RBIs. Molina leads the NL with a .341 batting average while playing his usual strong defence behind the plate. Wainwright, who allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings, said he thinks Molina is baseballs best all-around player. "What can you say?" Wainwright said. "He gets the big hits when he needs to and he calls greeat games.dddddddddddd" Barney also had a run-scoring single for the Cubs, who went 6-4 on a 10-game stretch in Chicago that included a makeup game at the crosstown White Sox last Monday. The four RBIs for Barney matched a career high set in a 14-4 victory against Pittsburgh on July 30, 2012. After a slow start, the Cubs (42-51) are a respectable 24-21 in their last 45 games. Its good enough for a four-game improvement compared to last year at this point, when the North Siders were 38-55 on their way to their first 100-loss season since 1966. "Its a half that could have gone a lot different, but I think a lot of guys have progressed, kind of taken strides in the right way," said first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who committed a mental gaffe in the eighth when he cut off a ball that might have got a runner at the plate. Travis Wood, who will represent the Cubs at the All-Star festivities, allowed three runs and a season-high 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings. It matched the shortest outing of the year for the consistent lefty, who pitched at least six innings in 17 of his first 18 starts. Molina was out of the starting lineup for St. Louis 6-4 loss on Saturday night and began the night in a 1-for-19 rut covering his previous seven games. But he singled in each of his first two at-bats, hit a leadoff double in the seventh and forced Bogusevic to make a leaping catch against the wall in centre in the eighth. "Tonight was me," Molina said. "Tonight I saw the ball pretty good and I made contact pretty solid." NOTES: Cardinals OF Matt Holliday (right hamstring tightness) missed his third consecutive game. "We need to be real careful so we can continue to progress, make sure we are aiming for that first day after the break," Matheny said. ... OF Cole Gillespie joined the Cubs, and reliever Henry Rodriguez was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. Gillespie was claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Saturday. He had a pinch-hit single in the eighth. ... Cubs RHP Scott Baker allowed four runs and six hits in three innings in his first rehab start with Class A Kane County. Baker missed last season with Minnesota after undergoing elbow-ligament replacement surgery. "Today was a big hump, to pitch against hitters and getting in a real game and the whole atmosphere and everything," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. ' ' '