Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, and Norman Powell sets a career-high

TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 3: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors grabs the rebound against the Miami Heat on December 3, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Toronto Raptors – Chris Boucher (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Chris Boucher

The Toronto Raptors getting back to near-full strength would always put someone’s minutes in jeopardy. it was either Chris Boucher or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, unfortunately, since RHJ has been playing so well, it’s hard to dislodge him.

That meant that Chris Boucher had to take the bullet, and it stings. The return of Serge Ibaka would clog up the Raptors frontcourt rotations, and there is no way that Nick Nurse could afford to leave out Ibaka, so Boucher was the odd man out, despite a decent return over the last month.

In November, Boucher averaged 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game in just over 15 minutes per game. He was vital in sustaining the Raptors decent rebounding numbers over that stretch and accumulated three double-doubles in that time.

Ibaka returned on Sunday night against the Utah Jazz (more on him later) and that looks to have spelled the end of Boucher in an extended role for the meantime, he played just five minutes against the Jazz in the blowout victory and then didn’t step foot on the court against the Miami Heat.

Without Ibaka, the Raptors’ frontcourt depth was a little thin. But with him, it gets a little bit stronger and Boucher is no longer a beneficiary. He impressed when he saw the court, though, so maybe there’s more for him in the future.

For now, he looks to be a garbage time option.

VERDICT: STOCK DOWN

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