August 10: Boucher has officially signed with the Celtics, according to a press release from the team.
August 5: The Celtics are signing free agent forward Chris Boucher on a one-year, minimum-salary contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter).
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 played in Toronto for the past seven seasons, winning a title in 2019 and appearing in 406 games, primarily off the bench (23 total starts).
He has 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 three-point arc.
Boucher, 32, saw action in 50 games last season, averaging 10.0 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’ 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 an Atlantic Division rival.
As an eight-year veteran, Boucher will earn $3,287,409 on his minimum-salary deal while the Celtics carry a cap hit of $2,296,274.
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.
soxygen:
I’m surprised there’s still a few decent players left who seem to be had for minimum money.
Good a veteran with championship experience. Now trade Hugo, Walsh, their unsigned draft rights to Amari Williams, Juhann Begarin and Yam Madar for a starting PF the age from 26-28. Or Miles Norris turns into that
Turn Simons into a PG
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.
I hope you right man. I just can’t trust him. I would have to see him do it in front of my eyes lol. You know next year is Knicks year to finish right.
I agree my man. But I think that spot is for injurys or night’s off I like to see Daddiet a get some run this year so another guard will probably keep him glued to the beach. It’s simmon takes the minimum and he flames out or it doesn’t really work out. We can just cut him and use the rest of the money to add a quality veteran but I’m not really big on shamet to be honest I don’t really see a spot for him unless we have long term injury to mcbride or Bridges. Also I’m sorry but don’t need kolek, he just doesn’t fit I say trade him add brogden and then you would have brogden and Simmons. No need for anymore 2nd round picks. He also is like 24 so you shouldn’t have a little roll at 24. That’s why I don’t really think kaminga is as good as you think he is, but hopefully he proves me wrong. I’m not saying you’re a finished product at 24 and you don’t have room to grow but you should have some type of role at 24 that we can put you in the game and say he can do this or he can do that or hold these minutes down.
But man if Simmons s is our guy and he flames out or doesn’t show up He should be done in the NBA at that point. It’s all on him and he has to show if he actually wants it but he does have the skill set that we need
KnickerbockerAl:
Talking about a minimum salary player though too. Not a lot of money or huge minutes to be given. I think Simmons is worth the potential reward because the risk is so low.
I’m always amazed at how people don’t get that Simmons is done. He misses more games producing less stats than any #1 pick since Greg Oden and/or Anthony Bennett
Why would you think he’s going to play more than 40 games this season (if he even gets signed)?
He played last year and it’s a minimum contract. And he’s better than Greg Oden and Bennett. His career has already been longer than both of those careers put together. Plus he is an all-nba selection and he was an All-Star which neither one of those players did. You just talking. He is not the player he was but for a bench role he should dude just fine
He played last year and produced 5 ppg 4.7 rpg and 5.6 apg.
(BFD). Almost all of that was on a tanking nets team in the weak east.
After the trade to the Clippers, 2.9 ppg 3.8 rpg 3.1 apg
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
Kuminga cares about 1 thing money
Lol, is there any NBA player that doesn’t?
only a few.
Name them
I know West and Livingston signed for less to play with the warriors. Even Jake McGee choose to play for warriors for less money.
You don’t believe Warriors have agreements with Horford and Melton. Boucher and Horford a little better.
warriors need size
Yeah same reason I like him too.
For 3.3 million he is a good bench player.
N0, I dont. Sorry. I think Horford is either retiring or waiting for Brad to work out the Celtics $$$ out and sign him for a 2 year deal to give him one last shot at a ring when Tatum is healthy.
I would bet #1 option, but I do think there is a small chance Al is staying and gonna lace em up for a last run. He will be the Celtics starting C if he resigns. Pritchard, White, Brown, AL and ????. I think Brad has a deal for the Big already and Simons + Queta, picks is the deal.
However, It is more plausible that Al is just waiting for the right time to announce his retirement and Boston to give him a weekend of love.
Brad Stevens has something going on. He was never keeping Hauser and Niang on the same team, they are redundant. He could have kept Niang and trade him later. Trading Niang attaching 2 2nds and getting a trade exception is a precursor move. Simons is the move and I believe he will get under the 1st apron and resign Al (well that is not realistic but I can dream, love Al.) and get a big.
Al would have signed already, there was money he could have signed for on the table with multiple teams and Al knows that when he did take the money, it did not work out. Plus he sat out almost a full year in OKC. See there I go, talking myself into it again.
Brad will find a gem like Derrick White. I would have guessed Poeltl until he signed the extension. Wont be a Jazz player bc he would have worked that with Niang. Wont be Vucevic bc he sucks at D and is old. Cant be anyone over 30 million so that means a lot of guys off the list.
Im looking at teams that need wing scoring, where the Celtics are not a threat, players who are blocked and Brad can use the trade exception and Memphis comes to mind, maybe Santi Aldama or Derrick Lively from Dallas. Both teams need shooters but Simon is a terrible Defender.
Well I did not see the White deal or the Porzingis deal, so I ll let Brad figure it out, but he has a deal and everyone is going to shake their head, but I bet you the guy works out.
Celtics payroll is over 203.5 mill. They are already over the first tax apron. No team that isn’t contending. Is going into second apron. Warriors are offering Horford mid level money, over 5 mill. Just waiting on Kuminga to sign QO.
link to google.com
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.
Boucher isn’t that big though. He doesn’t play like a big either. Realistically, they’d probably yykeep niang if he was on that deal but they’re shedding salary. It is what it is, break year for the Celtics until JT comes back
Boucher is bigger and longer. Has big wingspan. Not a true 4. But can play the 4. Its a good pickup
Boucher is an undersized big – he’s 6’9 and he’s not really a true rim protector. To say they made this move specifically for the reason of getting a big isn’t entirely accurate. There are multiple reasons as to why they made this move, mainly salary purposes. I don’t get why people arguing this
Dude, Boucher plays a LOT more like a big than Niang. He can protect the rim. He can rim run. Niang can’t do either.
They don’t need any more wings.
Next years not going to be “bleak” I like all of them.
He is better than Niang for Boston. All that matters.
He has a 7’ 4” wing span.
A wingspan 6.5% greater than a player’s height is considered elite. I just searcged this ……
Boucher on the other hand can actually defend his position.
Niang will give Doug McDermott a run for his money as worst defensive playmaker in the league.
Hauser is good enough and Niang is redundant.
The Warriors should have gone after him, but considering the Jimmy trade + extension we can tell that FO is allergic to good moves
Nothing they can do until Oct 1st when Kuminga gets his QO
You coming around lol 😁
Glad for him.
He is someone I want to see stay in the league for a few more years. I don’t even care who he plays for, just happy to see him play.
Such a good dude.
Personally, I would’ve rather just give Jordan Walsh an opportunity to play the four
Jordan Walsh is not a rotation player and will be either dumped or added in a trade to shed his salary. I have no idea why some Celtic fans think he is a player.
he is not. He does NOTHING at a NBA rotation level, not even D.
Davidson and Walsh were bad picks and did not pan out, both will be out of the league in 2 years.
Celtics have 1 really good prospect in Gonzales and 2 average ones with Scheinerman or whatever his name is and the Big from Kentucky who both need a lot of work. They also have a lottery ticket in Shuga kid who can shoot. I have NO idea about Garza, I guess we will see, but he is really not a prospect. As I said we will see.
Good news is the Celtics are great at developing players. Hauser, Pritchard, Queta were all G league guys at first.
Pritchard has never played in the G league.
Trey Lyles over Walsh.