Raptors rumors: Chris Boucher could be traded to make salaries match

The Toronto Raptors are in a very difficult situation, as they need to decide which players from this roster should be around for the long haul and which names should be sent away in order to get some more productive players in town. Chris Boucher has found himself squarely in the crosshairs. 

Boucher started the season as hot as can be, consistently scoring in the double digits off the bench and emerging as the team’s clear-cut Sixth Man. Unfortunately, the last few weeks have been painful to sit through, as he is back in Nick Nurse’s doghouse after an inconsistent stretch.

Boucher’s contract, which runs for two more seasons, is starting to look unsightly, as the veteran is clearly not a factor in the team’s short-term plans and is only getting more ostracized as the days go by. The odds of him staying on the roster after the trade deadline are shrinking.

According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Boucher may be included in a bigger trade as salary filler once January 15 comes around and his contract is legally allowed to be aggregated in deals. Even though his performance is fizzling and he is about to turn 30, Boucher still has some value.

Will the Toronto Raptors trade Chris Boucher?

Boucher is averaging 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, which is almost identical to last year’s numbers. His 45% field goal percentage is the biggest issue that Nurse has to be looking at. He’s not the only culprit in these Raptors teams, but he’s certainly one of the most noteworthy.

Boucher has scored two or fewer points in three of his last six games, receiving a four-minute spell and the dreaded DNP-CD in the last few weeks. When he isn’t showing the requisite energy in the paint that he needs to be successful, the value he brings to the team is substantially limited.

That doesn’t mean he is totally bereft of value, however. Between Nurse consistently juggling the lineup and the team’s general lack of half-court offense, moving to a team more well-equipped to compete in the modern NBA might be the kick in the butt that Boucher needed.

Masai Ujiri and the rest of the front office may be realizing that they went overboard on the whole “Vision 6-9” thing. Signing Boucher to play alongside four other 6-8 power forwards was always going to be an unusual fit, and the Raptors may need to subtract one of their veterans from the equation to get things turned around.