The Rap Up: Cory Joseph is on his way to becoming the best free agent signing in Raptors history

Coming off an embarassing sweep to Washington in the first round of the playoffs, the Toronto Raptors had some extra cash to spend this past summer. And while DeMarre Carroll got the big paycheck, Cory Joseph has become a staple for the team and not only the best pickup of the offseason, but possibly in franchise history.

Joseph became just the second Canadian to don a Raptors uniform in the summer of 2015, signing a four-year $30M deal to become the team's backup point guard.

At the time of the signing, many were skeptical about the amount of money spent to bring in a hometown kid. Fans thought the team would be getting a discount, little did they know the impact he would have on the team this season.

Joseph was seldom used during his time in San Antonio, going from the NBA to D-League affiliate Austin Toros multiple times throughout his first couple of seasons with the Spurs. By the end of his tenure in San Antonio, coach Popovich considered Joseph an integral part of the team. It was hard to believe he could be better on another squad.

But 50+ games into his first season with the Raptors, Cory Joseph has been playing even better and is fueling the best lineup in the NBA this season:

Joseph broke his season minute mark in the second quarter vs. Cleveland last night, the Raptors' 57th game of the season. Toronto values him and he has rewarded them with exeptional production.

Toronto's third most-used lineup has become their most successful group this season. That lineup has put up outstanding production, and Dwane Casey has leaned on this group to recover from deficits or stop opposing runs.

Individually, Cory Joseph's game is always on. On the court, he's pedal to the medal at all times, always moving on or off the ball, creating confusion for the opposing defense. His light is always green, he's been relentless all season long and never gives up on a play. All those tendencies lead to good things and Joseph knows that, bringing the philosphy over from San Antonio.

No other Raptors free agent has made such an impact in his first season with the team. And while it's still early to call him the outright best offseason pickup in franchse history, he's well on his way to leaving his mark.

Looking back at other note-worthy Raptors free agent pickups, Joseph has already surpassed a good handfull:

Jose Calderon: Brought in from Spain and the Liga ACB in 2005, Calderon spent his first 7 and 1/2 seasons with the Raptors, and was the team's anchor for half a decade.

Jason Kapono: Kapono got a nice pay raise in '07 to become the knockdown shooter the team was in need of. Unfortunately his sharpshooting mostly came in handy during the three point contest, where he claimed the award two years in a row.

Dell Curry: Curry played his final seasons in Toronto, and was an important role player during the Raptors' more successfull playoff runs.

Anthony Parker: Brought in from powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv after flaming out of the NBA early on, Parker established himself as an MVP overseas and contributed immediately for the playoff contending Raptors.

DeMarre Carroll: Donned with a massive contract, Carroll has been bitten by the injury bug this season and hasn't been able to contribute as much as the team hoped. There's still optimism that he will return for the playoffs.

Through 57 games, Joseph has surpassed all but one of those players, Calderon being the obvious obstacle to his claim at being the team's best free-agent pickup. But it took some time for the Spaniard to establish himself on the squad. Calderon started off his Raptors career as a backup before splitting time with T.J. Ford in the starting lineup. He eventually became the one consistant cog in the lineup year after year with outstanding poise on the offensive end.

But Joseph's play in his first season has opened eyes around the league, and his skillset meshes perfectly with the other stars on this team. He's able to take pressure off Lowry offensivly by manning the point, and at the same time he's become a thorn for opposing guards on defense, easing the workload for DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross.

None of the other notworthy players stuck with the team for more than three seasons. Cory Joe's immediate impact, playoff experience and championship pedigree is essential for a Raptors team who are in the middle of a hunt for an NBA title.

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