The Boston Celtics inked Chris Boucher to a one-year veteran minimum contract this offseason, and fans are quickly finding why the signing flew under the radar. There are significant questions about the frontcourt, but Boucher has been a DNP-CD in three straight games. The veteran quickly proved unplayable even in a thin big man rotation without clear answers.
This should not be shocking. Boucher slipped out of the Raptors' rotation last season and hasn't averaged over 18 minutes per game since 2023. The 6’9 big man offers more than on-court production, but Boston needs big men after letting Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet leave in the offseason.
They hoped Boucher would be part of the solution, but he is not even getting off the bench. This disaster signing will only get worse as their depth gets tested. Boucher’s days as a productive NBA player appear to be over.
Celtics clearly already regret Chris Boucher signing
He appeared in the first four games, but the Celtics were outscored by 11 points in his 43 minutes on the floor. After two straight wins where he never left the bench, Boucher got another shot, but back-to-back losses put him right back out of the rotation.
The 32-year-old averages 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 10.7 minutes per game so far this season. He is shooting just 31.6 percent from the field and has made just one of his ten 3-point attempts. It is a small sample, but one so bad that head coach Joe Mazzulla already axed him from the rotation.
The Celtics have a negative-10.1 net rating with Boucher on the floor and are 3.7 points per 100 possessions better than the opposition when the big man is on the bench. That is not a misprint. Boston is 13.8 points per 100 possessions better when the 6’9 big man is not in the game.
Mazzulla is still trying to figure out his ideal rotation, but he knows Chris Boucher is not part of it. There are challenges whether he gets minutes at the four or the five. Boucher struggles against the NBA’s biggest centers, but can’t space the floor well enough to thrive next to another big man. The Celtics hoped his shooting from last season proved real. Sadly, it hasn’t, and the rest of the package has gotten Boucher glued to the bench.
Boston decided to cut their spending and move on from several key pieces of their title team with Jayson Tatum injured. They knew it would mean some failed minimum signings, but nobody thought one would blow up on them this quickly. It was clear after the first two games that Boucher wasn’t helping them win.
The Boston Celtics have more difficult decisions to make. They could try to dodge the luxury tax before the deadline and further tear down their roster. It may throw away their chances at making the playoffs in the wide-open East. Fans should trust Brad Stevens, despite this disastrous signing. He built the title team and will have the Celtics back when Tatum returns next season.