3 Toronto Raptors who deserve a larger role next year, 3 who have earned nothing

Chris Boucher hasn't earned a role

If in 2019 after winning the championship a Raptors fan was asked who would be the last player from that team left standing in Toronto, they may have guessed a dozen times before picking Chris Boucher. Yet that’s the reality, as the lanky 3-and-D big man remains while Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and everyone else has moved on.

That doesn’t mean he needs to factor into the Raptors’ rotation this season, although a lack of depth at center may press him into service. Surprisingly already 31 years old because he entered the league so late, Boucher has been in physical decline over the past few seasons and doesn’t have the same defensive ability as he did a few years ago when he was at his shot-blocking peak.

Add to that the reality that while Boucher is a willing shooter, his accuracy has only been sharp one year of his career, when he shot 38.3 percent from deep in 2020-21. Otherwise, Boucher has been a mediocre shooter from 3-point range; better than most big men, but not enough to truly change a defensive scheme. 

Now coming off of an injury, Boucher is likely to have even less to offer if on the court. The Raptors would be better served giving time to their rookie centers or to signing someone to fill the backup center role with more ability than Boucher; at this point in his career, he doesn’t help enough in the present to justify blocking developmental minutes for their young bigs.