Leandro Barbosa is Indiana bound. (Getty Images) |
Yahoo Sports reports that the Pacers, currently sitting in the No. 5 in the Eastern Conference, will trade for Toronto Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa. NBA.com confirms the news and reports that the Raptors will receive a second round pick in return for Barbosa.
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com has confirmed the move.
Indiana can absorb Barbosa into their cap space and does not need to match salaries or send a player in return.
The Pacers had previously been linked in rumors to backcourt players such as Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford and Charlotte Bobcats guard D.J. Augustin.
Barbosa, 29, is averaging 12.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.5 minutes per game off of Toronto's bench this year. He provides the backcourt scoring and depth that Indiana was seeking.
Barbosa is in the final year of a contract that is paying him $7.6 million this season, so he does not compromise Indiana's salary cap space this summer. His acquisition amounts to a rental. Toronto, sitting in the Atlantic Division basement at 14-29, had no meaningful use for his services and no longer has to pay for them.