Indiana Pacers Create Financial Savings with James Wiseman Deal
On February 6th, 2025, the Indiana Pacers traded center James Wiseman and cash considerations to the Toronto Raptors for a top-55 protected 2026 second round pick. Indiana received a trade exception
When the Indiana Pacers took a flier on center James Wiseman, it seemed like the right opportunity for the former number two overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Due to injury and ineffective play, Wiseman had not lived up to expectations in his first four years.
Indiana signed the big man to a two-year minimum deal with a team option, with an intent to have him as a third center on the roster. He could find his niche as a finisher at the rim in a high octane offense with a great playmaker in Tyrese Haliburton.
However, the opportunity would quickly fade. In Indiana's season opening game against the Detroit Pistons, Wiseman tore his left achilles tendon. He played just five minutes, scoring six points.
Wiseman remained on the roster. Indiana had another backup center in Isaiah Jackson tear his achilles tendon too. The Pacers later added to the roster, trading for center Thomas Bryant as a replacement.
At the trade deadline, Indiana saw an opportunity to cut salary and create room to sign another player without hitting the luxury tax threshold. Toronto was able to gain cash from Indiana for taking on Wiseman's guaranteed salary for the rest of the 2024-25 season.
The Pacers sent Wiseman and cash to the Toronto Raptors for a conditional second round pick in 2026. Indiana created a $2.2 million trade exception in the deal.
The move placed Indiana $2.4 million below the luxury tax. It allowed the club to sign backup center Tony Bradley in March.
Wiseman was waived by the Raptors just two days after the deal. In a sign of a good relationship with the Pacers, he rehabbed his achilles injury in Indiana after Toronto waived him.
Fresh off an NBA Finals appearance in 2025, Indiana retooled in the offseason, losing starting center Myles Turner and backup Thomas Bryant in free agency. One move Indiana made to its big man rotation was signing Wiseman again to a two-year, $5.7 million contract. Only $1 million of his $2.7 million first-year salary was guaranteed.
The draft pick Toronto sent to the Pacers was top-55 protected, meaning the pick would only convey to Indiana if the Raptors had one of the five best records in the NBA during the 2025-26 season.
The Raptors were tied for the 11th best record, and their pick ended up 50th overall, allowing them to keep the pick.
Image via AP/Phil Long
