Why the Raptors should bring back Chris Boucher

A reunion between Chris Boucher and the Toronto Raptors could make a lot more sense this summer than it did a year ago.

When Boucher left Toronto for the Boston Celtics last offseason, it marked the end of an era for the Raptors. He was the last remaining member of the team’s 2019 championship roster and one of the longest-tenured players in the organization.

It stung to see a fan favourite leave for a rival but as we all know, his time in Boston, didn’t last very long. Boucher appeared in just nine games for the Celtics before falling out of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. 

It also didn’t help that Boston later acquired Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline and converted rookie big man Amari Williams from a two-way contract to a standard deal, leaving even fewer opportunities for Boucher to crack the lineup. The Celtics eventually moved him to the Utah Jazz, who later waived him.

When Boucher became available, the idea of a reunion with the Raptors was immediately floated around. On paper, it made sense to bring back the Canadian. Toronto needed frontcourt depth and Boucher was already familiar with the organization. The timing of things, however, made things complicated to actually pull off.

Due to Boucher’s veteran minimum salary as a player with eight years of NBA experience, the Raptors would have had difficulty signing him while remaining below the luxury tax. Toronto likely would have needed to wait several weeks before a deal became financially feasible.

Even then, bringing in a veteran a couple of months into the playoffs wouldn’t have made much sense. The Raptors had already established their rotation and team chemistry, making a late-season addition difficult to integrate.

This offseason is a different story. Boucher remains unsigned and his value has likely never been lower. That could allow the Raptors to bring him back on a team-friendly deal with very little risk attached.

Despite being 33 years old, the last time he laced up for Toronto, he averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the Raptors’ bench in scoring. He also knocked down 36.3 percent of his three-point attempts on nearly four shots per game and finished at an efficient 63.3 percent from inside the arc. Those are shooting numbers Toronto could definitely still use.

The Raptors struggled from deep for much of last season, finishing 26th in the NBA in three-pointers made and 21st in three-point percentage at 35.4 percent. Outside of Ja’Kobe Walter, who had a strong season shooting the ball, consistent perimeter shooting was often hard to find.

It’s important to note that Boucher isn’t going to solve all of Toronto’s shooting problems, but he would give the second unit another floor spacer while also providing energy, rebounding and defensive versatility. There’s also value in what he brings off the court.

The Raptors have one of the younger rosters in the league, and Boucher has seen just about everything during his NBA career. He knows the organization, understands what it takes to win and has already built relationships with many people within the franchise.

Boucher has also left a lasting mark during his time in the Six. He was named both the 2019 G League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year with Raptors 905, won an NBA championship in 2019 and ranks among the franchise leaders in categories such as blocks, offensive rebounds and games played.

A reunion may not be the Raptors’ biggest priority this offseason, but it’s an idea that makes more sense now than it did when Boucher first hit the open market. For a team looking for affordable depth, shooting and veteran leadership, bringing back a familiar face could be worth exploring.