Veteran Raptors point guard Darrick Martin, whose negotiations on a new deal with Toronto are progressing smoothly, has been on loan to Euroleague giant CSKA Moscow for about the last three weeks. Martin has lent them his playing expertise and it has allowed him a chance to get in top shape before NBA camp begins later this month.

Martin, a free agent looking at another one-year deal in Toronto, was farmed out to CSKA Moscow because four of its top guards are playing for Russia in the European championship and the team needs to get ready for the domestic season, which begins in October.

With the blessing of the Raptors, Martin who took part in camp, is now in Italy with the Moscow team finishing up practices and will play in a few exhibition games before heading back to Toronto to continue his 15-year NBA career.

"He looked at it as a great opportunity for a couple of reasons," Martin's Los Angeles-based agent Greg Lawrence said yesterday. "He took his family over ? he's got a young daughter and this was a great experience for her ? and he's getting some good work in, so he'll be in great shape to start camp."

Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo said the team had no problem with Martin working out with another team and that the Raptors are still seriously interested in having the 6-foot-1 guard back for another season. However, to keep some flexibility on the roster ? Toronto already has 14 players with fully guaranteed deals, not including Martin ? the Raptors are looking at a new one-year pact that wouldn't be fully guaranteed.