Toronto Raptors' longest-tenured player still available in free agency
Much has changed for the Toronto Raptors since their franchise’s first — and so far only — NBA title in 2019.
They’ve said goodbye to former team president Masai Ujiri, head coach Nick Nurse, and all-time franchise greats such as Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and the greatest one-season wonder in NBA history in Kawhi Leonard.
And three weeks into NBA free agency, it seems like the future remains uncertain for their current longest-tenured player.
Chris Boucher, the 32-year-old forward who has been with the franchise since 2018, is still a free agent with not much likelihood of returning to Toronto.
How was Boucher’s time with the Raptors?
Last season was one of the toughest of Boucher’s career, as he ended up benched in favour of younger players for nearly half the year, playing just seven times after Feb. 1, despite remaining healthy.
When he was in the lineup playing 17 minutes a game, Boucher averaged 10 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 50 games this past season.
In the frontcourt, Toronto signed NBA vet Sandro Mamukelashvili and added Collin Murray-Boyles in the first round of the draft, further complicating things for Boucher.
Boucher spoke to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto earlier this summer about his future plans, his time in Toronto, and what he’s learned during his time in the NBA so far.
“I think of how much [the Raptors] believed in me at the beginning, and that was really something that I have to give them their flowers, to believe in something that people weren’t sure of at that time. I thought I was so much better,” Boucher said to Scotto of his early days with the Raptors franchise. “Obviously, I had some potential, but I wasn’t there yet. They kept believing in me and kept putting me in a position to get better.”
Only two teams in the league are currently listed as being below the salary cap — the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets — severely limiting Boucher’s options of landing a big deal.
Toronto is currently positioned as a team in the luxury tax per Spotrac, meaning they won’t be able to sign any deals above NBA league minimum. Along with guard Malcolm Brogdon, Boucher is one of only two players this past season to make US$10 million or more who remain unsigned.
As the NBA transaction cycle mostly slows to a halt, it’s anyone’s best guess where Boucher ends up.
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