SUMMARY
- The Toronto Raptors have been the most active team ahead of the trade deadline.
- They are interested in moving Chris Boucher to acquire more assets to piece around Scottie Barnes.
The Toronto Raptors have completely stripped off their roster from five years ago. They are looking into a major rebuild as well. Recently, sources revealed that the team is looking forward to potentially trading Chris Boucher ahead of the impending trade deadline. Surprisingly, the Raptors have been the most active team in the trade market. And it doesn’t seem like they have any intent of stopping now.
Report: Raptors expected to trade Chris Boucher https://t.co/V8nmNHVxPx
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 21, 2024
Boucher is currently on a three-year deal he signed with the Raptors in 2022. He was offered $35.2 million which gives him an average salary of $11.7 million per game. The forward is currently in his second year of the contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
The Raptors have been trying to revamp the roster around Scottie Barnes, who is currently their best player. Barnes emerged as the 2022 Rookie of the Year and is currently averaging 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Toronto has already moved several pieces this season while getting RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jordan Nwora, Bruce Brown, and a couple of future draft picks.
Chris Boucher is the last-standing member of the 2019 Raptors Championship roster
Based on the moves Toronto has recently made over the last couple of weeks, fans have been posting memes about Chris Boucher being the only remaining member of the 2019 NBA Champion team. Unfortunately, after the Raptors won the title, Kawhi Leonard did not re-sign with the team and wound up with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Chris Boucher feeling it on Instagram 😂 pic.twitter.com/d9B0U5Uc8Y
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) January 18, 2024
Kyle Lowry played until the 2020-21 season but chose to sign with the Miami Heat in 2021. In 2023, Fred VanVleet had decided to test free agency and he ended up signing with the Houston Rockets. And players like Jeremy Lin and Marc Gasol had ventured out of the team along with several other pieces who were dealt in trades.
This left Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher as the only member of that team on the roster. However, the Raptors moved on from Siakam as well, sending him to the Indiana Pacers for him to join forces with Tyrese Haliburton. Based on various sources, Toronto is looking forward to acquiring players who would fit perfectly alongside Barnes.
Chris Boucher with authority 😤 pic.twitter.com/LXP1GrnCA9
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 19, 2024
Boucher has only been averaging 6.2 points and 4 rebounds per game which hasn’t been of much help. But the Raptors will have to take a look into the trade market to find fitting veteran players. Their current roster is filled with younger stars and perhaps a veteran leader could help them achieve a playoff appearance.