4 Raptors players who need monster stretch runs to save their job

No. 2: Chris Boucher

Chris Boucher was one of the uncovered gems of this Toronto front office. An undrafted big man out of Oregon, Boucher signed one of the early two-way contracts with the Golden State Warriors and spent most of his time with the Santa Cruz Warriors. After one quiet season he was waived, and the Toronto Raptors scooped him up on a Training Camp deal that became a two-way deal, was converted into a full contract later that season, and eventually became a multi-year contract and subsequent extensions.

That success story, however, may be coming to an end. Boucher deserves credit for carving out an NBA career but he hasn't been able to break through to become more than a backup center, and his role has dwindled over the past few years. He is a good shot-blocker but not truly elite, a willing 3-point shooter but not an overly accurate one, and his rebounding is not enough to play him in a larger role.

Boucher is under contract next season at $10.8 million, so it's unlikely he is outright waived. His role is very much on the line, however, be it from two-way center Jontay Porter completely overtaking him or a new addition in free agency or the draft this summer. It's not entirely clear how many teams would be interested in Boucher were he to lose his spot in Toronto.

If Boucher wants a job next season and beyond, he needs to prove himself down the stretch. A strong showing could generate trade interest or hold off the competition for that backup center slot; a poor one, a meek fading into the night, could mean the end of his last rotation spot in the league.