The Toronto Raptors came to a conclusion with a four-year contract worth $30 million, with Cory Joseph, according to CTV News.
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Joseph is the fourth Spurs player to depart since the offseason officially began last Tuesday, joining starting forward/center Tiago Splitter (traded to Atlanta), reserve guard Marco Belinelli (Sacramento) and reserve center Aron Baynes (Detroit). LaMarcus Aldridge recently signed with the San Antonio Spurs, which forced the Spurs to cut ties with Cory Joseph, making the point guard talent from a restricted to an unrestricted free agent. Perhaps not coincidentally, that’s when the Spurs withdrew their qualifying offer to Joseph, paving the way for a return to his native Toronto, where he will become the primary backup to All-Star Kyle Lowry.
The Toronto Raptors appear to have landed an impact Canadian player. “We’re just waiting for that one to come”.
San Antonio selected Joseph 29th overall at the 2011 National Basteball Association draft out of the University of Texas.
His per-36-minute numbers of 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists suggest the 23-year-old could blossom with increased playing time.
Joseph, who turns 24 next month, averaged 17 points a game for Canada the past two summers on very good percentages and has been the national team’s top performer over those past two years.
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“There’s nothing like coming home”. He will have a more prominent role with the Raptors than he ever has before. With the market settling down after four days of pure madness to start free agency, Joseph might slip under the radar. Each of Ujiri’s four acquisitions since the season ended – DeMarre Carroll, Bismack Biyombo, Joseph and first-round pick Delon Wright – are defence-oriented players.
