Chris Boucher Signs One-Year Deal with Celtics, Aims to Bolster Frontcourt Depth for Title Defense
In a quietly strategic move that could pay major dividends, the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics have agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with veteran forward-center Chris Boucher, league sources confirmed early Wednesday.
Boucher, 32, joins Boston after five seasons with the Toronto Raptors, where he earned a reputation as one of the league’s most unique role players — a wiry, 6’9” shot-blocker with a smooth outside stroke. Averaging 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game last season in limited minutes, Boucher brings a versatile toolkit to an already loaded Celtics roster.
A Calculated Depth Play
While the deal didn’t make major waves across NBA news cycles, insiders say Celtics GM Brad Stevens sees Boucher as more than just an insurance policy.
“This isn’t just about depth. It’s about fit,” one team source noted. “Chris stretches the floor, protects the rim, and plays with nonstop energy. In our system, that’s dangerous.”
With Al Horford entering what may be his final season and Kristaps Porziņģis still managing recurring lower-body issues, Boucher could play a significant role in keeping Boston’s frontcourt rotation both fresh and flexible.
From Montreal to the NBA’s Brightest Stage
For Boucher, the move marks a potential career renaissance. After going undrafted in 2017 and overcoming an ACL tear early in his career, the Montreal native clawed his way into the league through the G League, eventually becoming a key reserve on Toronto’s 2020 and 2021 squads.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Boucher said in a statement. “To be able to join the defending champs and compete for a title? That’s a dream.”
Known for his unorthodox path — from dropping out of high school to working in a St-Hubert rotisserie chicken restaurant before rediscovering basketball in his late teens — Boucher’s gritty journey embodies the kind of resilience that has defined Boston’s culture under head coach Joe Mazzulla.
A New Weapon in the Celtics’ Arsenal
Mazzulla is expected to use Boucher in both small-ball and traditional lineups, potentially pairing him alongside Luke Kornet or inserting him into Porziņģis’ minutes to maintain length and rim protection. His 32% three-point shooting and long wingspan (7’4”) make him a matchup nightmare for second units.
NBA analysts already see Boucher as one of the offseason’s sneakiest pickups.
“Think of what Bruce Brown was for Denver in 2023,” said former NBA scout Ryan Fisher. “That kind of impact. Not flashy — but exactly what you need to win.”
Eyes on Banner 19
With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the charge, and Jrue Holiday and Derrick White anchoring the perimeter, Boston’s title defense will rely heavily on durability and matchup depth — both of which Boucher enhances.
It may not have grabbed headlines like a blockbuster trade, but make no mistake: Chris Boucher could be the kind of under-the-radar move that helps deliver Banner 19 to the rafters at TD Garden.
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