3 Raptors who may earn a new 2022 contract with good second half

1. Chris Boucher

It looked like there was no chance of a Boucher return before the trade deadline, as his name came up in dozens of hypothetical trade proposals. After some struggles early in the season, Boucher continues to make plays as the Sixth Man for the much-maligned Toronto bench.

Boucher routinely scores in the double digits while providing more of the switchable defense Nick Nurse loves. Boucher is a free agent that will turn 30 in the middle of next season, but it’s clear that Nurse values him as an integral part of what he wants to do on both sides of the ball.

The Toronto Raptors might decide to pay Chris Boucher.

Young is getting long in the tooth, Precious Achiuwa has not progressed on offense in the way that the Raptors may have hoped, and Khem Birch lacks the athleticism that Boucher brings to the table. A somewhat economical eight-figure deal brings Boucher back while maintaining his salary as a vital trade chip should the need arise.

The Raptors have a very unique piece in Boucher, and he is about to flex his muscles in the home stretch of the season now that his slump from the beginning of the year is officially in the past. If he keeps scoring like he did last year, Toronto might decide to give him a new multi-year contract.