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Toronto Raptors: one surprise name kept, while a bunch are waived

By Brian Boake

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Jamel Artis #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors during a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Jamel Artis #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors during a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors made a bunch of roster moves today. Most were unsurprising, but keeping Chris Boucher was a shock. How can he help the team?

The Toronto Raptors made official what we predicted a few days ago, although there’s one player we got wrong. The team has waived Deng Adel, Eric Moreland, Kyle Collinsworth and Kay Felder. The departure of the last three was anticipated (we’ll come back to Adel later).

However, the last man standing was super-skinny tall (I can’t call him “big”) man Chris Boucher. He has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, which allows him to be assigned to the G League’s Raptors 905 squad. He can be called up to the NBA team under certain circumstances which are too tedious to be recounted here.

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I assume the debate behind closed doors for the second of two Exhibit 10 contract recipients was a fierce one. No doubt the raw yet talented Adel had his champions, and Yours Truly would have been one of them. I liked his youth, his confidence, his versatility. More than that – none of the other wing candidates had advanced their cause much or at all. The Raptors have a place to stash Adel, but didn’t do it. Instead coach Nick Nurse has more front court insurance.

What can Boucher actually do?

Water under the bridge…what does Boucher bring to the dance? After punting their chance at Thon Maker in the 2016 draft (they took Jakob Poeltl instead), were the Raptors looking for a clone of the Bucks’ skinny giant? Because they certainly have one. Boucher can’t do the things Jonas Valanciunas or Serge Ibaka are able to on the glass. He weighs 200 lbs. on a 6’10” frame, so he’s going to get bullied under the rim. If he’s going to be of any value, ever (a dubious proposition), he’ll need to be a shot-blocking menace on D, and a mobile stretch-5 when we have the ball.

He’s played one minute of one NBA regular-season game in his career, so projecting him to do anything at all seems absurd. I hope he is pointed to the minor-league team immediately, where he can work at improving all facets of his game.

At the moment, keeping Boucher seems little more than a Canadian feel-good story. Yet Toronto’s brains trust wouldn’t keep him around for that reason. They must believe he’s a talent worth investing in, though why you’d keep a 25-year-old project player over a 21-year-old (Adel) is beyond me.

Anyway, the roster situation is soon to be finalized. This is the final weekend before the guys hit the floor for real. I can’t wait.

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