The Celtics are signing free agent forward Chris Boucher on a one-year, $3.3MM veteran’s minimum contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
Boston opened up a frontcourt spot for Boucher by agreeing to trade Georges Niang to Utah on Tuesday. Boucher will compete for minutes at both the power forward and center spots for the Celtics, who have been busy shedding salary and revamping their roster throughout the offseason.
Save for one cameo appearance with Golden State in 2017/18, Boucher has spent his entire career with the Raptors. Boucher has been a key reserve for Toronto the past seven seasons, appearing in 406 games but only 23 starts. He’s averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.7 minutes during his NBA career while shooting 48.8 percent overall and 33.9 percent beyond the 3-point arc.
Boucher, 32, saw action in 50 games last season, averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.2 minutes. He didn’t appear in a game after Feb. 26 as the Raptors decided to essentially shut down the veteran big man and take a long look at their younger players.
Boucher was the last remaining player from the Raptors’ 2019 championship club. He holds the all-time franchise records as a reserve for points, rebounds, blocks, minutes and games played.
Toronto held Boucher’s Bird rights and reportedly was interested in re-signing him but that didn’t come to fruition. He’ll now join another Atlantic Division club.
That’s a really nice get for both sides. Boston gets a serviceable big who can shoot the 3 and split time with Queeta and Boucher is gonna get minutes to build up his value for next year.
Agreed. He’s a legit rotation guy on a minimum contract for a team that desperately needed cheap veteran help inside. I’ve been surprised that he remained unsigned for so long, but I’m glad to see that he is under contract.
2 time nba champion
Oh man . I wanted him. Rather Boucher than Ben.
He and OG are suppose to be tight.
Nice pickup for Celtics ….
Al I’m telling you Simmons is the move. Hulk is our back up big. Played well the second half of the season before he got hurt. I like Boucher if we didn’t have Towns. He’s like the EBT version of towns. Simmons won’t need to score on our team. He can do all the things he’s really good at which is play making and rebounding and playing defense..plus you can play him 1-4 if needed. He would play great with towns. The only other player that makes sense over top of Simmons would be brogdon, but I’m just not sure there’s any minutes for him if you’re playing McBride and Clarkson. Just my thoughts. Also if we didn’t sign the French dude it make since. They’re pretty much wouldn’t be no minutes for him unless there is an injury and if that happens let’s play those young guys and get them out there.
He would have been perfect for GSW but he gave up waiting. Kuminga cost them a free agent.
Ma not a fit..have you watched him play. He’s not really that good at the pick and roll
Kuminga didnt cost them anything, the Warriors cost themselves a free agent
Sorry to report that Niang is actually a better player than Boucher, certainly a better shooter.
While that is true, boston is trying to shed salary so it is what it is
And…they need a big? Niang is a 6-7 wing, like Brown, Hauser, Gonzalez, Minot, Shcierman, and Walsh. He was a goner as soon as he got here.
Dude, wake up. Did you notice Boucher fills a position of need while Niang does not?
They needed a big. Niang isn’t a big. They got off Niangs contract which moved them below the second apron.
and yes, Niang is a better shooter .Boucher can protect the rim, and rim run. Niang can’t touch the rim, or run.
The Warriors should have gone after him, but considering the Jimmy trade + extension we can tell that FO is allergic to good moves