According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Boston Celtics are signing Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. Boucher has spent almost his entire career (outside of one game with the Golden State Warriors) with the Toronto Raptors up to this point and will give the Celtics, and Joe Mazzulla, a proven center option on the roster.
Neemias Queta will likely still be the starter heading into next season, but adding Boucher to the roster gives Mazzulla a veteran presence at the center position to turn to if needed. If Queta or Luka Garza struggles, Mazzulla can roll with Boucher.
If nothing else, Boucher is a very interesting swing for the Celtics to take.
How can Chris Boucher help the Celtics?
Queta has yet to prove himself at the NBA level. He’s still shown signs of struggling with processing speed, and he often finds himself out of position on both ends (and in foul trouble).
While Boucher likely won’t take his potential starting role, he does give the Celtics a bit of an insurance policy. Before the signing, the Celtics would have been left to roll with Garza in the wake of Queta’s struggles (if he ends up dealing with them).
Now, Mazzulla has a proven veteran (32 years old) who he can put in the game and depend on for solid minutes at the center position.
Boucher isn’t ground-breaking. He’s probably not a starting-caliber center in the NBA. But he’s proven capable of giving a team 25 minutes a night when needed. He’s a solid shot-blocker, a decent three-point shooter, and he can put the ball on the floor if needed.
Plus, Boucher could be the first in a string of potential Celtics tryouts to reshape the center position moving forward.
Though this year may end up being a wash for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum will (almost certainly) be back from his Achilles injury for the start of the 2026-27 season.
By that point, the Celtics will still have needed to figure out their center position, as Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet are all gone.
Bringing in a guy like Boucher this year will give Boston the chance to get a much closer look at a guy who could be a part of the team’s core the next time they make a run at a title with Tatum leading the way.
Worst-case, Boucher is off the team in a year. Best-case, he’s still in town, helping Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the Celtics try to win Banner 19.