10:03 pm: The Raptors have issued a press release confirming their deal with the Pacers and announcing that Wiseman has been waived. That’s a clear signal that the trade was just about the cash for Toronto, which still has an open spot on its 15-man roster and will have a second opening when Orlando Robinson‘s 10-day deal expires tonight.
2:16 pm: The Pacers are trading James Wiseman and cash to the Raptors, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Wiseman is currently out for the season due to a torn Achilles after signing a two-year, minimum-salary deal last offseason.
In return, the Pacers are getting a top-55 protected second-round pick from the Raptors, according to IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak (Twitter links). That pick is for the 2026 draft.
The former No. 2 overall pick only appeared in one game this season due to his injury. Prior to that he had stints with the Warriors (where he was drafted in 2020) and Pistons. In 148 career games (55 starts) he holds averages of 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Wiseman has a team option worth $2.5MM for next season. If the Raptors opt to exercise that option, they could take a flier on a former highly rated recruit who is still only 23 years old and matches up with Toronto’s timeline. They could also turn down the option in favor of extra flexibility.
Toronto will have a full 15-man roster after the move, if no other changes to reported deals involving Brandon Ingram or P.J. Tucker occur.
As for the Pacers, they gain a bit more of a cushion under the luxury tax and open up a roster spot, which could help them be players on the buyout market. Specifically, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks points out (Twitter link), the Pacers will move from being $147K below the tax to about $2.3MM below it.
Raptors were down to 14 players after the Ingram. They don’t need to waive Robinson to make this deal.
Still don’t get why they do this without getting an asset to do it though.
An asset to take 2.5 million?
Wiseman sucks. What is the point of acquiring him at all?
Plus this helps Indiana get far enough away from the tax line to sign someone on the buyout market without going over. Dumb move by Toronto.
You give an asset when you have a bad contract attached… Give me one example where a team gave an asset for a guy making 2.5 and no guaranteed money after that?
The NBA is all about relationships. Raps/Pacers GMs worked together awhile on a Siakam deal. When Raps need to duck the tax or an apron 2-3 years from now, the Pacers GM will do them a similar favor, or trade them a decent roster bubble player for nothing in return. Plus the cash they got will exceed Wiseman’s salary.
Don’t know the cash details yet, but would guess that the cash the Raptors is getting from Indiana will exceed what they have to pay Wiseman for the rest of the season. So, free money is probably the asset.
Yeah that is fair Luke. So there is your example MB.
Don’t get this for raps at all!
Are you ok man? You were mad we dealt one of the worst players in the NBA (Mitchell) for a 2nd and now taking a stab at a young big man for a protected 2nd causes same reaction?
Yea MB81 because everyone doesn’t think exactly as you then something must not be okay. Donavon Mitchell is one of the wordt players? You’re opinion, its not written in stone. Don’t forget to wear that on a T-shirt.
*one of the worst OFFENSIVE players in the NBA
But will gladly take a SRP for him. Good defensively, but he is what he is on offense, and so def just a defensive specialist at this stage of his career.
But agree on your take with Wiseman. Let’s see if the Raps can coach that potential out of him.
He’s been released
Former first round pick lots of upside still young only 2.5 mil next year. Doesn’t seem bad at all
Wiseman doesn’t have upside he is not good
He’s 23, dude. He’s also been sidetracked by injuries. Maybe he’s not good. Maybe he is. It’s still way too early to tell.
23 and he has averages of 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in his career. The rockets currently have Jock Landale on their roster who I guarantee doesn’t have those kind of numbers.
Bigs who are young and still have potential get lots of opportunities
Those numbers were all put up on bad teams. He has never been able to stick on any team that wasn’t terrible. That should tell you a lot.
The history of the NBA is littered with guys who put up numbers on losing teams but couldn’t stick anywhere else. Wiseman is going to be another one. Only reason he got drafted so high was because scouting was difficult during covid and his measurements pointed to someone who should in theory be a good basketball player. For this level of basketball that never transpired in reality.
No upside?
Wiseman is exactly the definition of upside. Lacking skills.
A thing that could possibly be learned.
Size, athleticism can’t be taught.
He hasn’t shown any growth since high school. Any theoretical upside he made have isn’t rooted in reality. That athleticism isn’t likely to survive his Achilles injury either. Dude is cooked.
Too early to tell with this kid…
But his career to date is Greg Oden esque…
If he gets healthy there’s always a chance he could become a decent player… Far too young to give up on…
Wiseman has not proven he belongs in the league. Tough luck with the injuries. My bet is that Toronto waives him if they don’t see him as a backup for Poetl next season. If that happens, he may not get another solid chance, just 10-days and training camp invites and G-League rosters. He should go for the Euroleague.
There are a lot of good reasons to head to Europe over the next 4 years…
Getting paid to play a game there ain’t that bad of a thing…
For sure that is a great reason to play in Europe. High school friend of mine who is 6’11 had a 10 year career over there with an average salary of 300k a year. Although he says the best part of it longterm was the people he met while playing. Last 10 years he has been a business executive making about the same amount. But he also has talked about how dumb most of the guys who come from the US are in how they approach the move.
In regards to Wiseman he was always trying to be something he wasn’t in this league. Then injuries finished him off. Seems like a prime candidate to never realize how he can actually have a long career in the game.
Wish Thibs would have picked him up. Hes a FA . Definitely worth looking at for Raptors. Thibs works magic with big athletic centers. Teaches them fundamental defense first. He really is a big man whisperer ……. Hukporti will show you.
Good move Toronto, now help him. I still believe in Wiseman wish him the best. Get healthy.
Great for a young team
He fits on this team hmmmm