6’10”, 200-pound power forward Chris Boucher could pack plenty of punch into a late second round selection for the Celtics.
When scouring the latest NBA mock drafts, you cannot help but notice the abundance of freshman and sophomores that line the second round projections. A plethora of underclassmen who are not guaranteed to forego their remaining years of collegiate eligibility for the NBA are listed as potential draft picks, putting an asterisk next to the accuracy of the majority of mock drafts.
However, one player who is guaranteed to be on the board this June – most likely in the second round – is Oregon’s high flying power forward, Chris Boucher. Standing 6’10”, Boucher is an athletic freak of a nature, someone who has skied his way to 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game on one of the nation’s premier championship contenders heading into March Madness.
While Boucher presents whichever team that decides to draft him with purely raw talent, he has plenty of intangibles to work with. His defensive rating of 89.9 is superb, boosted by his astounding 6.3 blocks per 100 possessions and block percentage of 11.8 percent. His defensive box plus-minus of 5.9 is certainly telling of his aggressive focus on the defensive end, the side of the floor on which he prides himself. His lengthy frame allows him to contest nearly every shot attempted in his vicinity, and it also feeds into him becoming a considerable threat on the defensive glass as well.
More from Draft
- 7 Best undrafted talents to play for the Boston Celtics
- Jordan Walsh breaks silence after being drafted by Boston Celtics
- Predict the NBA Draft with $1,000 Bonus at BetMGM Massachusetts
- Why the Boston Celtics should take a gamble on GG Jackson in the draft
- Boston Celtics have explored trades for No. 35 pick and ‘valuable trade chip’
Boucher has garnered a defensive rebounding percentage of 20.1 percent this season while posting 15.1 rebounds per 100 possessions.
While the pace of his shooting stroke and the speed at which he operates will require an increase in speed once he hits the professional ranks, Boucher’s offensive game has a tremendously solid base. He can hit the three-point shot with relative effectiveness, shooting 35.7 percent from long range, while hitting 62.7 percent of his shots from two-point land.
His offensive rating of 118.7 is nothing to take lightly, and Boucher fits perfectly in the new-age NBA as a stretch-four. His confidence in his outside shooting abilities is measurable, allowing teams to stretch the floor while providing floor spacing and scoring lanes for penetrating guards.
In scoring 29 points in just 25 minutes of action in a victory over Washington State on January 7, Boucher displayed the epitome of his offensive game. In the early going, he stroked a pair of three-pointers, forcing defenders to respect him from outside the arc. Once Cougars defenders were drawn out to the perimeter, Boucher utilized his long first step to blow by the competition for a layup and a nice dump pass inside for an assist.
After the dish to teammate Jordan Bell, Boucher had the momentum on his side, making Washington State pay with a few more three-point makes from the corner.
Next: Celtics Need Others Surrounding Isaiah Thomas To Step Up
Following the rounding out of his final collegiate regular season with a pair of 18-point outings in his final four appearances, Boucher will look to boost his draft stock with what appears to be a long postseason journey for the Ducks. As of now, Boucher is touted as someone who will barely eke himself into draft boards, likely chosen towards the bottom five of the draft. While this will depend on whether or not a considerable number of underclassmen decide to enter the NBA, as of now the Celtics should be able to scoop up Boucher with one of their final two second round selections.