Khem Birch will join the Raptors after clearing waivers. Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

Khem Birch signs with Raptors after clearing waivers

Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Arthur Hill | Last updated 4/10/21

Former Magic center Khem Birch has officially cleared waivers and will join the Raptors for the remainder of the season, Toronto announced on Twitter.

Birch is excited to join the Raptors:

Wow. Thank you to the @orlandomagic organization, front office, my teammates, coaches, & all the fans for an amazing 3.5years. I’m lost for words on what the city of Orlando has meant to me & my family! Beyond grateful

I’m excited for the next chapter of my career with @raptors pic.twitter.com/3XhvWex6Oy
— Khem Birch (@Khem_Birch) April 10, 2021

The Raptors inherit the $3M expiring contract Birch had with Orlando. He will earn $416K for the rest of the season, and the Raptors will have a $389K cap hit, per Blake Murphy of The Athletic. Birch gave back $413,964 in a buyout deal with the Magic, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN.

He's not expected to play in Saturday night’s game at Cleveland, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. There’s a chance his Raptors debut could come Sunday in New York, Lewenberg adds. Toronto has been struggling through injuries and will have only nine players available on Saturday night.

Birch, who was born in Montreal and went to school in Ontario, will become the sixth Canadian to play for the Raptors in team history, according to Lewenberg.

The 28-year-old served as the Magic’s primary backup center for most of the year, but his role was diminished as Orlando began to emphasize its younger players. He averaged 5.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 48 games this season.

This article first appeared on Hoops Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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