5 Raptors who are playing for their future in Toronto
By Tyler Watts
The Toronto Raptors significantly overhauled their roster this season as Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby were traded. They focused more on getting young talent than draft capital in return. The Raptors hope they can get back into contention quickly, but likely need a second star to pair with Scottie Barnes to make that a reality.
Toronto is on pace to miss the playoffs for the second straight year. They are 17 games under .500 at the All-Star break and five games out of the final Play-In Tournament berth. It has been a difficult and unexpected season. The Raptors should focus on retooling and maximizing their roster around their 22-year-old star.
These talents have plenty to prove over the final 27 regular season games because they are fighting for their place on the roster moving forward.
5. Chris Boucher
The 6’9 big man has been a rotation piece for the Raptors for four straight years, but this season it may be coming to an end. He played in just two of the team’s final eight games before the All-Star break and his 13.9 minutes per game are his lowest since 2020. Boucher’s advanced metrics have slipped, and it is fair to question his future in Toronto.
The 31-year-old is under contract for $10.8 million next season, but it is the final year of his deal. Boucher won’t have much value on the trade market, but several teams would be willing to take on an expiring deal in the right move.
The 31-year-old has produced a 0.0 value over replacement player this season. He must fight his way back into the rotation and prove he can still play quality minutes. If not, the Raptors will have him in trade discussions this offseason, and his six-year run in Toronto could come to an end.
Chris Boucher is not the only Toronto Raptors’ big man fighting for his place on the team down the stretch.
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