Chris Boucher, Celtics Agree to $3.3M Contract, Updated Salary Cap After Niang Trade
After seven years with the Toronto Raptors, Chris Boucher is joining a new squad.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the veteran big man inked a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Boston Celtics.
The deal for Boucher comes shortly after the Celtics traded forward Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz in return for rookie guard RJ Luis Jr.
Boston, which will be without star Jayson Tatum for most of the year after he suffered a torn Achilles, is clearly looking to save money this season. After trading Niang and signing Boucher, the Celtics are now $6.9 million below the second apron and $5 million over the first apron.
Boucher, who went undrafted out of Oregon in 2017, began his career on a two-way deal with the Golden State Warriors but logged just one game in his rookie year. He joined Toronto the following season and stayed with the Raptors until this offseason.
He had the best season of his career in 2020-21 when he averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He hasn't found that level of success in recent years but has remained a solid bench presence. In 2024-25, he put up 10 points and 4.5 rebounds per game off the bench.
While he managed to post solid numbers during the 2024-25 season, he also struggled to stay on the court. He played 50 games, but did not suit up past February, missing the last few months of the season due to illness.
During a solid stretch last season, Boucher found himself in trade rumors ahead of the deadline. The Raptors reportedly put Boucher on the trade block and drew interest from several teams.
Toronto ultimately didn't trade him during the season, but he'll now part ways with the Raptors on his own.
He made it clear that his decision of whether to re-sign with Toronto or depart in free agency would depend on the Raptors' playoff hopes.
"Do I want to not be on the floor, not playing, and wait? I feel like I’ve been doing that for the last two years," Boucher told HoopsHype's Michael Scotto in June. "We haven’t had winning seasons in those years, which explains it, but I can’t really afford not to be on a playoff team and trying to win, especially when it comes to my age."
Boucher is clearly hungry for postseason success after years of playing for a struggling Raptors team, and that desire for a playoff run should motivate him to have a strong first year with Boston, even if the Celtics are in for a bit of a down season.
