Celtics Free-Agent 'Finally Gives Them an Actual NBA Player' at Key Spot

The 2025-26 Celtics are not exactly shaping up to be world beaters, with forward Jayson Tatum out, likely for the year, with a torn Achilles tendon and much of the roster jettisoned elsewhere to rein in the financial impact of the NBA luxury tax's dreaded second apron.

While one of the big losses for the Celtics this summer was point guard Jrue Holiday, who was traded to Portland, where the team was most heavily hammered was in the frontcourt. Boston lost Kristaps Porzingis (trade with Atlanta), Luke Kornet (signed with Spurs) and Al Horford (still waiting to sign elsewhere), and has been left with a decidedly thin and inexperienced group up front.

Celtics Sign Chris Boucher

That was the case, at least until Tuesday, when the Celtics signed forward Chris Boucher to a one-year deal worth $3.3 million.

The Celtics currently have Neemias Queeta and Luka Garza as the centers and with the departure of Georges Niang (trade to Utah), are devoid of quality power forwards. Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh can masquerade as undersize 4s, and Xavier Tillman can play the 4, but there's no one in place who has a track record as a regular at the position.

Boucher does. He is not necessarily a starter (he has started only 23 times in 407 NBA games) but he has been a power forward for the bulk of his career, averaging 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in his career.

Brad Stevens' Roster Out of Whack

Around the league, there have been questions about just how, exactly, GM Brad Stevens is constructing his roster in the absence of Tatum. The Celtics have guards Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, with Payton Pritchard still aboard.

But they can't win many games without players up front.

"(Boucher) is a really good, active player who you can use in stretches," one Eastern Conference GM said. "He's always been someone we liked, but as a bench guy, an energy guy. But when you look at what they have right now, that roster is out of whack.

"No one knows where they're going with this, but the thing about Boucher is, he finally gives them an actual NBA player in the frontcourt. They do not have many of those right now."