Chris Boucher’s time with the Celtics has officially come to an end, after months of speculation. On Thursday, just hours before the NBA Trade Deadline, it was reported that Boston had agreed to send Boucher and the Nuggets' 2027 2nd round pick (acquired in the Simons/Vucevic deal) to the Utah Jazz.
The Boston Celtics are trading Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026
The Celtics' offloading of Boucher felt like it was only a matter of time. The veteran forward hardly saw the floor after signing a veteran’s minimum contract back in August. He made just one appearance for Boston after Nov. 23 and had no real pathway back into the rotation.
At 33 years old, it’s probably in Boucher’s best interest to finish the season elsewhere. He’s likely looking to earn another NBA contract this summer, and sitting on Boston’s bench wasn’t doing anything for him in that regard.
There hasn’t been any detailed reporting on how long this was in the works, but the former Toronto Raptors forward was listed out heading into both of the Celtics’ games in Texas this week due to “personal reasons.” The team listed Anfernee Simons out with the same, after reports surfaced that he’d been traded to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic.
What's coming next for the Celtics?
As for what’s next for the Celtics, the answer is obvious -- kind of. Unless there’s an additional piece coming back in either trade, they’re going to have to add someone else to their roster. Boston now sits at 13 players, after trading Boucher. Per league rules, they’ve got to have at least 14 players on the roster, but have a two-week grace period where they’re legally allowed to roster 13.
There are a few avenues they can take here. The first would be to trade for another player before the 3 p.m deadline on Thursday. There are likely a handful of players who can be had for next to nothing.
The Celtics also have the option of waiting until the post-trade-deadline buyout market opens up. Each year, a few tanking teams will buy players they’ve traded for, for salary reasons, out of their contracts to allow them to join a contending team.
Their last option comes from within. Boston can sign any of their three two-way players, Ron Harper Jr., Amari Williams, or Max Shulga to a full-time roster spot. Harper Jr., at this point, feels like the most likely candidate now that the Cs will be thin at the guard spot, having traded Simons. Not to mention Harper Jr. got the start on Wednesday’s win over the Houston Rockets and looked more than comfortable playing real minutes.
Regardless, be on the lookout for some news surrounding the Celtics soon, whether it be big or small.
After trading Boucher, Boston now sits just $3.6 million above the luxury tax line. Again, they've got to sign another player to the roster, so that'll change a little, but it's worth noting.