Raptors, Pacers are discussing a Cory Joseph trade as Toronto looks to shed salary

The Toronto Raptors and the Indiana Pacers are in talks about a trade involving Cory Joseph, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, a move that would help clear salary in Toronto so they can re-sign their free agents this summer. So far, though, talks haven’t proceeded past a discussion phase.

The Raptors have already re-signed Serge Ibaka at a three-year, $65 million deal, and Kyle Lowry shouldn’t be far behind him. But those players — not including valuable bench piece Patrick Patterson, who’s still unsigned — would push Toronto’s salary to nearly $130 million, well over the luxury cap threshold. While Toronto’s management has said before that it would consider paying the tax, this might not be the right circumstance. After all, this isn’t a tangible improvement. It’s the Raptors bringing back the exact team that couldn’t make it past the Eastern Conference semifinals last year.

Joseph makes $7.6 million next season, and clearing that off the team’s payroll will give Toronto some room to breathe. This probably isn’t the only move that the Raptors are discussing: trading DeMarre Carroll or Jonas Valanciunas would allow Toronto to really shed salary, and both players seem moveable. (Valanciunas was the team’s starting center, but the Raptors arguably drafted his replacement in 2016 and also have Bruno Caboclo potentially ready to move into a larger role.)

For Indiana, dealing for Joseph would give them a point guard for their rebuild that’s still only 25 years old and a decent prospect. The Pacers recently lost Jeff Teague to free agency and have reportedly considered Lance Stephenson at the point, which would be highly entertaining. But a tank doesn’t mean that the Pacers stop playing all semblance of organized basketball, and you still need someone to reliably get Myles Turner the ball so his development isn’t stunted. Absorbing Joseph’s salary would do that.