The Toronto Raptors have confirmed their trade with the Indiana Pacers and the subsequent waiver of James Wiseman, signaling that this NBA deal was largely about freeing up cash for the Raptors.
The trade leaves Toronto with an open spot on its 15-man roster and additional flexibility after Orlando Robinson’s 10-day contract expired on Thursday.
Wiseman, who signed a two-year, minimum-salary deal with the Raptors in the offseason, will not return this season due to a torn Achilles. He was acquired from the Pacers as part of the transaction, but the Raptors have opted to part ways with the former No. 2 overall pick.
The 23-year-old center appeared in only one game this season because of his injury and has previously had stints with the Golden State Warriors, where he was drafted in 2020, and the Detroit Pistons.
In exchange, the Pacers received a top-55 protected second-round pick from the Raptors for the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar. Wiseman, who has career averages of 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 148 games (55 starts), also has a team option worth $2.5 million for next season.
Should the Raptors have exercised that option, they would’ve taking a chance on a once highly regarded player who could potentially align with Toronto’s rebuilding timeline. But they opted to go in another direction.
The Pacers, for their part, have gained some additional financial flexibility. The trade moves them from being $147,000 below the luxury tax to approximately $2.3 million beneath it, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. This financial cushion could position the Pacers to be active in the buyout market.
Following the trade, the Raptors’ roster is now at its full 15-man capacity. They also acquired Brandon Ingram and P.J. Tucker ahead of the deadline.
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