Toronto Raptors brass meets w/ Boucher to explain why he keeps getting benched

[ArthurVandelay]

As per Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic, the team met with the 32-year-old to discuss his role with the organization.

“We did talk to Chris, he’s aware [he’ll be sitting more often], he’s staying ready, he’s staying prepared,” Rajakovic said following Toronto’s 118-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. “Every single day, he’s in the gym putting a lot of work in.”

While Rajakovic didn’t name who else might’ve been in the meeting, the choice of the word “we” implies that other members of the coaching staff and front office have been communicating with him about his future.

“We’re really trying to give opportunities for those young guys, and take a look at them,” Rajakovic added.

The Raptors have 16 games left this season, beginning with a four-game road trip that starts in Utah tomorrow. Only time will tell if those are Boucher’s last as a Raptor.

https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-raptors-brass-meets-chris-boucher


A few things seem obvious to me:
1. Raptors couldn't get an expiring contract for Boucher at the deadline that also returned draft capital. They didn't want to take on salary for next year besides Ingram because it would have put them in the tax.
2. Raptors didn't want to waive him and lose his Bird Rights
3. Boucher is realistically looking at the possibility of minimum contract next year.

State of Raptors roster for 2025/2026:
1. 11 guaranteed contracts
2. 1st and 2nd round pick incoming for 13 roster spots filled.
3. 2 roster spots left.
4. Per Spotrac, they have $177M in salary next year and luxury tax is supposed to be around $188M.

My conclusion on the Raptors and Boucher is that they have an agreement. He'll be able to go search for a contract in free agency, but if he can't get more than the minimum, he'll likely come back on a minimum agreement or, depending on where they pick in the draft and the amount of wiggle room the Raptors have, he might get something like $4m (almost double veteran minimum).

15th roster spot will be the Raptor "training camp, non-guaranteed" showdown who will likely be waived before January 10th, 2026.


So that's what I think is going on with Boucher.

[Tor_Raps]

Ya that's exactly my take on the situation. Raptors plan on winning next season and don't want to lose his bird rights. Still weird that he can't get into games when everyone else on the roster is playing here and there.

[dTox]

Not trading him was a bad move, especially since he could have gotten more playing time elsewhere, and potentially earn a better contract

[Brinbe]

Lol the Raps wanted no part of taking in that Zeke Nnaji contract and the Nuggs had no compelling picks to make it worthwhile. So Boucher was always gonna be vet minimum territory in future years depending on if there's a more lucrative market for him elsewhere. Wouldn't mind having back next season and beyond, he's a good depth piece to have.

[DelAbbot]

Not trading him was a bad move, especially since he could have gotten more playing time elsewhere, and potentially earn a better contract

Many posters thought Boucher would have gotten 2 SRP or even a late FRP when he was winning games single-handedly in Jan

[TheGeneral99]

Really must be annoying for a guy like Boucher who was playing fantastic before the deadline and is on a contract year.

[kwajo]

Really must be annoying for a guy like Boucher who was playing fantastic before the deadline and is on a contract year.

Yeah, I get get why the Raptors might not have traded him, but they are essentially costing him career earnings by gluing him to the bench. That's got to be frustrating.

[TheGeneral99]

Really must be annoying for a guy like Boucher who was playing fantastic before the deadline and is on a contract year.

Yeah, I get get why the Raptors might not have traded him, but they are essentially costing him career earnings by gluing him to the bench. That's got to be frustrating.

Yes, unless they already agreed to an under the table deal.

I would keep Boucher for a friendly deal of like 3 years 20m.

[mrdressup]

At this point I'm not sure it make sense to keep him. I don't consider him a basketball chemistry type of guy. When he's giving you something it's always on the level of a personal performance where he just highlights himself.

[Tripod]

Boucher is not a mystery to other teams. They know what he is...his strengths and weaknesses. And no one was willing to offer an expiring +an asset for him. That's the reality of the situation. No one offered it last year or this year. End of story.

People remember the good games but forget the bad. He went like 4-26 from 3 over a 9 game stretch earlier this year. He isn't "always great off the bench". Other teams know it, we know it. Hell, how many GDT's have we seen posts like "you know if you are getting good Chris or bad Chris in the first few mins".

So in the end, not playing him won't impact his money next year. Teams that were interested, could still be. And I think the Raps are also happy to te-sign him to a more appropriate contract going forward.

And maybe he is quite fine not uprooting his life and wants to stay and they have had those discussions already. Time will tell.

[AbC?]

Sources tell me it was one of the most difficult conversations Masai has ever had to have

“How can you tell an NBA champion to sit?” he said, as the tears flowed.

[NinjaBro]

Sources tell me it was one of the most difficult conversations Masai has ever had to have

“How can you tell an NBA champion to sit?” he said, as the tears flowed.

[ArthurVandelay]

Sources tell me it was one of the most difficult conversations Masai has ever had to have

“How can you tell an NBA champion to sit?” he said, as the tears flowed.

I'm here for the cynicism!

[ArthurVandelay]

Really must be annoying for a guy like Boucher who was playing fantastic before the deadline and is on a contract year.

Yeah, I get get why the Raptors might not have traded him, but they are essentially costing him career earnings by gluing him to the bench. That's got to be frustrating.

Yes, unless they already agreed to an under the table deal.

I would keep Boucher for a friendly deal of like 3 years 20m.

Boucher and his agent know what is up. If people aren't willing to attach a 2nd to an expiring to get you, I don't think they're willing to give more than minimum in free agency. I could be wrong, for his sake I hope I am. I doubt he's upset he isn't playing on a (horribly) tanking team. Everyone knows what he is and he has nothing to gain except an injury. He's going to have no issue getting a minimum deal next year and I'm sure his agent knows that is what next year will bring. They'll be pushing for a player option, that will be his win in free agency this summer.

But 3/20 isn't happening in Toronto. If they did that, signed the 7th pick to $7.6m ($6.3m + 20%) plus a minimum ($1.3m) they have about $2m to spare (which coincidentally is about the cap charge for a vet minimum). So if they sign Boucher for 3/20, where are they cutting $5m to stay below the tax? Who goes?

[ItsDanger]

Boucher is over 30, no need to treat him like a child.

[tdotrep2]

Boucher is over 30, no need to treat him like a child.

it's not about treating him like a child, this makes no sense other than a combination of trying to keep his next potential contract numbers low & tanking even tho guys like Yak and essentially everyone else is still getting pt

[nestea]

Sources tell me it was one of the most difficult conversations Masai has ever had to have

“How can you tell an NBA champion to sit?” he said, as the tears flowed.

Lol I see what you did there lol

[ConSarnit]

Really must be annoying for a guy like Boucher who was playing fantastic before the deadline and is on a contract year.

Yeah, I get get why the Raptors might not have traded him, but they are essentially costing him career earnings by gluing him to the bench. That's got to be frustrating.

Are they?

What team is thinking “man, we really wanted to see Boucher in these last 25 games before we offer him a contract?”

The guys is a 8 year vet and is 32. 25 games is not going to change the type of contract he’s going to get. He’s a tax payer MLE (or lower) type guy. Teams know what Boucher is. Give or take some 3pt shooting variance Boucher has been the exact same guy for the past 4 seasons. If anything we might be helping him by keeping his 3pt% high and not risking injury.

[raptorforlife88]

Ya that's exactly my take on the situation. Raptors plan on winning next season and don't want to lose his bird rights. Still weird that he can't get into games when everyone else on the roster is playing here and there.

I actually don't think it's weird because out of all the bench guys, he is the only guy when he's on will singlehandedly win you a game. It only happens some of the time, but when he's on he's bringing incredible energy and is hugely efficient.

You can't just decide to bench him if he comes into the game and makes a couple of shots, easier to just stay away from his hot streaks if you're trying to lose.

Honestly when he's playing like he was earlier this year, I'm pretty sure he's more impact than RJ and Quick as well during those hot streaks. He's tied with Scottie for team lead in BPM for a reason.

[RapsFanInOhio]

I’m not sure I agree that sitting games is causing Boucher to lose money here. If anything, it prevents regression to the mean - he was on a serious heater for large chunks of his playing time and if he plays more consistent minutes, maybe those averages come down a bit. I mean sure, he won’t have as many total points but his per game averages will stay solid and teams clearly know we’re tanking.

If I had to bet, I think he is back and is a solid rotation piece next year but I don’t think we’re costing him any money by sitting him.