Recent Celtics' addition happy to embrace 'enforcer' role

Boston Celtics forward Chris Boucher. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Recent Celtics' addition happy to embrace much-needed 'enforcer' role

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 4:52 PM ET

There's a youthfulness to the Boston Celtics rotation this season. After parting with multiple key veterans in cost-saving moves during the offseason, Boston has assembled a string of young, unproven talent. Some of those players have been with the Celtics for a year or two, and others joined this summer.

Nevertheless, head coach Joe Mazzulla's rotation — and likely his offensive and defensive systems — will look considerably different moving forward. Unfortunately for Boston, when you have a primarily young roster, you lose a level of toughness, as teams around the NBA look to assert their physicality and experience during games.

That's where Chris Boucher, who signed a one-year deal with Boston during the offseason, believes he can help. During a post-practice discussion with CLNS Media's Bobby Manning, the veteran forward noted that he's open to stepping into an "enforcer" role for the Celtics this season.

"I think every team got one of those guys that kind of protect everybody, and if that is to be me, then it is what it is," Boucher said.

Chris Boucher on standing up for Hugo Gonzalez in Memphis: “Kyle (Lowry) did that for me. Serge (Ibaka) would’ve done the same thing for me.”
-@CLNSMedia | Q: @GwashburnGlobe pic.twitter.com/VyKOn0psYH
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) October 10, 2025

Boucher's status as a veteran on Boston's roster will immediately ensure his voice his heard within the locker room. If he's truly open to defending his guys on the floor, he could quickly emerge as an important off-season pickup for the franchise, regardless of his actual production.

Chris Boucher could be a starter for the Celtics

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Boucher was the starting power forward for the Celtics in their opening preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies. His size, length and shot profile could ensure that he's part of the starting lineup more often than not in the coming season.

Mazzulla will likely lean on experience within his starters, and then rotate the younger developmental guys off the bench. That way, the Celtics can remain somewhat competitive while also bringing along talent that will be fighting to try and earn bigger roles.

Of course, Boucher's position will be far from guaranteed, regardless of the role he plays on the court and behind the scenes. If one of the younger prospects steps up and earns a role with the starters, then Mazzulla will undoubtedly reward them.

Boston may not have a contending roster this year, but one thing is for sure: there will be internal competition at every position of the squad, especially in the front court.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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