The Boston Celtics were in desperate need for some frontcourt help, so they went north for a potential solution. On Tuesday afternoon, the C’s reportedly agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with former Toronto Raptors center Chris Boucher, per ESPN senior reporter Shams Charania.
Boucher is no stranger to the Celtics, as the vet has squared off many times with the green and white over the course of his eight-year career. And if C’s fans forgot about the time Boucher dropped 30 points in 35 minutes against Boston in March 2021, it’s clear Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens did not.
The 6-foot-9 big man spent much of his early life in Canada before helping the nation win its first NBA title in 2019. In fact, Boucher was the last member of that championship team to leave the Raptors, surviving various retooling periods.
Now, Boucher has a chance to move forward with the Celtics, who needed more size after losing former starting center Kristaps Porzingis and 7-footer Luke Kornet. Although Boucher is 32 years old and far from his prime, he’ll have the opportunity for real minutes off the bench with the undermanned Celts’.
He will be able to join Boston’s roster without pushing the team back over the second apron, thanks to the Celtics having dealt reserve forward Georges Niang into the Utah Jazz’ cap space shortly before making this move. The trade now has Boston about $1.7 million above the first apron and $9.4 million above the luxury tax line, per The Third Apron’s Yossi Gozlan.
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