Welcome to the Boston Celtics, Chris Boucher!

[djFan71]

I like it. Wish it was a 2 year with team option, but, oh well.

[flintsky21]

Called it

[Gant]

I was a big Bassey fan. Comparing the two, Bassey is 8 years younger, 1000% more likely to be injured, more likely to block shots, more likely to pass, more likely to turn the ball over, and more likely to foul. Obviously Boucher shoots from the perimeter and Charles doesn't -- yet.

Boucher might be primed to start this season and spread his wings a bit -- and possibly accept a backup role to JT next year, which could be helpful. Bassey is more of a classic 5.

Career ORtg Bassey 121 Boucher 124
Career DRtg Bassey 111 Boucher 110

If it was close to a coin flip, I'm guessing they made the right call -- and again, saying this as someone who liked Bassey in his draft and in Vegas last month.

https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?player_id2=bassech01&player_id1=bouchch01&request=1&utm_id=bouchch01&utm_campaign=2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_source=bbr

I don't think this closes the door on Bassey. They play different positions.

[Gant]

Bobby Krivitsky:

The former Oregon Duck also gets to reunite with Payton Pritchard. The two teamed for a year in Eugene. They helped lead the Ducks on a Final Four run in 2016-17.

[Bad-Thoma]

Whoah! That came out of nowhere. I'm happy about this, always liked Bobby and that's a solid bargain. He's probably a 3rd center on a contender but for this season with a tepid front court he's a solid pick up.

[bisme37]

Read on Twitter

[SuperDeluxe]

I was a big Bassey fan. Comparing the two, Bassey is 8 years younger, 1000% more likely to be injured, more likely to block shots, more likely to pass, more likely to turn the ball over, and more likely to foul. Obviously Boucher shoots from the perimeter and Charles doesn't -- yet.

Boucher is from my city, so just for that this is a slam dunk. I'm not sure why he was still available this late in the offseason. And how on earth did Brad manage to sign him for $3M?

Yet to be determined: Will he be enough to help us forget about Niang?

[165bows]

Ive always liked Boucher and wanted him on the C’s. Good length and athleticism for a big. Hes skinny but you could do a lot worse for vet min

Yup this guy was destined to come here, Amari Johnson 2.0 (ok 0.5, but still).

[GoCeltics123]

I think the goal with him is to hope he balls out and flip him at the deadline, he's going to be so cheap for teams

[Hal14]

I was a big Bassey fan. Comparing the two, Bassey is 8 years younger, 1000% more likely to be injured, more likely to block shots, more likely to pass, more likely to turn the ball over, and more likely to foul. Obviously Boucher shoots from the perimeter and Charles doesn't -- yet.

Boucher might be primed to start this season and spread his wings a bit -- and possibly accept a backup role to JT next year, which could be helpful. Bassey is more of a classic 5.

Career ORtg Bassey 121 Boucher 124
Career DRtg Bassey 111 Boucher 110

If it was close to a coin flip, I'm guessing they made the right call -- and again, saying this as someone who liked Bassey in his draft and in Vegas last month.

https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?player_id2=bassech01&player_id1=bouchch01&request=1&utm_id=bouchch01&utm_campaign=2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_source=bbr

I don't think this closes the door on Bassey. They play different positions.

Bassey is a 5. Boucher is a 4 who can also play some small ball 5.

So there is some positional overlap.

We're back to having 1 roster spot open..but Brad typically leaves the 15th roster spot open, for $ savings and flexibility reasons.

However, more moves/trades could be coming so there's a non-zero chance we sign Bassey.

But I wouldn't get my hopes up. There hasn't even been any rumors that we've shown any interest in signing him. The only teams this offseason who have shown any reported interest in signing him for this season are in Europe..

Meanwhile, we have shown reported interest in Ben Simmons so it seems likely that if we do sign someone else to a standard contract, it would be Simmons or perhaps Amari Williams, rather than Bassey.

Bassey continues to be like Lonnie Walker was last year. A fringe NBA player who no NBA teams seemed to want, only seemed to get overseas interest, yet C's fans still obsess over them..

[djFan71]

What's his cap hit? I'm still at $200.985M for my total which is higher than Marks, etc. But that's just plugging in $3.3M. If that's his vet min, his cap hit should be less.

EDIT: Fine, I'll answer my own dang question: $2,296,274

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/06/nba-minimum-salaries-for-2025-26.html

Because the NBA doesn’t want teams to avoid signing veteran players in favor of cheaper, younger players, the league reimburses clubs who sign veterans with three or more years of experience to one-year, minimum-salary contracts. Those deals will only count against the cap – and against a team’s bank balance – for $2,296,274, the minimum salary for a player with two years of experience.

Spoiler:

Tatum $54,126,450.00
Brown $53,142,264.00
White $28,100,000.00
Simons $27,678,571.00
Hauser $10,044,644.00
Pritchard $7,232,143.00
Boucher $3,300,000.00
Gonzalez $2,783,880.00
Scheierman $2,619,000.00
Tillman $2,546,675.00
Queta $2,349,578.00
Luka Garza $2,461,463.00
Josh Minott $2,378,870.00
Walsh $2,221,677.00

[jmr07019]

I think the goal with him is to hope he balls out and flip him at the deadline, he's going to be so cheap for teams

Would be some impressive GM work to get anything of value for a vet min guy.

[SuperDeluxe]

I think the goal with him is to hope he balls out and flip him at the deadline, he's going to be so cheap for teams

Would be some impressive GM work to get anything of value for a vet min guy.

Well, the Jazz have just traded a two-way for a veteran and two 2nd round picks, so anything can happen, courtesy of the CBA.

[darrendaye]

Boucher's rebounding and shot block numbers suggest he can play with either of the 2 main centers. I think he starts. But I do think he gets some minutes at smallball 5. The PF minutes also have to account for minutes for Minott, Scheierman, and/or Walsh, directly or indirectly.

[return2glory]

Good, underrated pick up by Brad. Chris Boucher is a solid payer who can get hot at times and drop 20 in 20 minutes.
There will be no tank this season. Brad is building a solid team that will complete this season.

If we keep Simons, this team has a chance to compete for the 4th-7th seed in the East.

He isn't a starter. I will be surprised if he starts. But he is a really good 7th or 8th man. I see a few people saying he can play center. He isn't a center.

[31to6]

I think Boucher is the first 'actual' 4 on this team other than Tatum (and I guess Niang)
Sam plays roughly half his minutes there, and I have been figuring JB might play there this year as well, but Boucher could not only thrive in his age 32 season with us, but then in a perfect world re-up to backup a returned JT?
Getting over my skis and overly optimistic, will return to thinking about who gets our two-way spots

[redslastlaugh]

Jordan Crawford 2.0
(or atleast Dennis Schroeder 2.0)

LFG! Lets go!!

I think the goal with him is to hope he balls out and flip him at the deadline, he's going to be so cheap for teams

[djFan71]

Jordan Crawford 2.0
(or atleast Dennis Schroeder 2.0)

LFG! Lets go!!

I think the goal with him is to hope he balls out and flip him at the deadline, he's going to be so cheap for teams

Can't wait to add to the PotW trophy case!

[Gant]

‪Owen Phillips‬

Boston takes the best remaining free agent (by DARKO DPM) off the board.

[Dogen]

Nice signing. Good solid vet at a price that doesn't break the apron, in a position of need.

And he's been "on the list" it seems. I think Brad has been interested in Boucher for a while.

Really nothing to complain about. We back!!!