Breaking: Chris Boucher Agrees to One-Year Deal With Boston Celtics Worth $3.3 Million in Key Frontcourt Depth Signing
In a strategic offseason move that could bolster their already formidable frontcourt, the Boston Celtics have agreed to terms with free agent forward Chris Boucher on a one-year, $3.3 million contract. The deal brings in a player with length, defensive instincts, and playoff experience to a Celtics team that is once again positioning itself for a championship run. Boucher, a 6-foot-9 forward with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, spent the last six seasons with the Toronto Raptors and has been widely respected around the league for his ability to protect the rim, run the floor, and stretch the court as a shot-blocking big who can also knock down threes.
The move was first reported early Wednesday and later confirmed by league insiders close to the Celtics’ front office. For Boston, the acquisition adds yet another layer of versatility and depth to a frontcourt that already includes Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta. But unlike some of those players, Boucher brings a different kind of athleticism and energy — one that could prove invaluable in matchups that require quicker rotations, weakside help defense, or mobile bigs who can switch onto wings.
This one-year deal is not just a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for the Celtics, but it also serves as a reset for Boucher himself. After seeing his role decline over the past season in Toronto due to the Raptors’ youth movement and midseason coaching change, Boucher will now get a fresh chance in Boston to prove he can still be a key contributor on a winning team. At 31 years old, he is not necessarily a long-term project, but he fits well into the short-term window Boston is clearly maximizing.
The Celtics’ interest in Boucher isn’t new. Reports dating back to last year suggested Boston had monitored Boucher as a potential trade or buyout target when Toronto began retooling its roster. The idea of adding a mobile forward with weakside rim protection and fast-break finishing ability appealed to Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. Known for his meticulous and proactive roster-building, Stevens has once again struck with precision, targeting a player whose skill set addresses one of the few remaining gaps in Boston’s elite rotation.
Boucher’s path to the NBA has never been conventional. Born in Saint Lucia and raised in Montreal, Canada, he was a late bloomer who didn’t play organized basketball until his late teens. After going undrafted in 2017 and suffering an ACL tear at Oregon during his final collegiate season, Boucher bounced between G League assignments and two-way contracts before eventually breaking out with the Raptors during their 2019–20 and 2020–21 campaigns. In the 2020–21 season, Boucher averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 38.3% from three — a breakout year that earned him a multi-year deal with Toronto and solidified his place as a legitimate NBA rotation player.
Since that peak season, however, Boucher’s role has gradually diminished. As the Raptors shifted toward a new era centered around Scottie Barnes and other young players, Boucher saw his minutes decrease. Last season, he appeared in just 55 games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per contest. Despite the reduced opportunity, his per-minute productivity remained solid, and advanced metrics still view him as a positive defender who can impact games in limited spurts. For a Celtics team that often struggled to maintain defensive intensity when its stars rested, Boucher could provide valuable coverage.
What makes Boucher especially appealing is his flexibility. He’s one of the few bigs who can block shots while also serving as a transition threat. He runs the floor like a wing, and despite a slight frame, he’s known for absorbing contact and contesting without fouling. His ability to float between the four and five positions gives Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla more freedom when managing matchups. If Porziņģis or Horford needs rest — or if Boston opts for small-ball lineups that prioritize switchability and speed — Boucher can step in as a plug-and-play option.
Moreover, his experience on a title-contending Raptors team means he won’t be rattled by the stakes in Boston. He understands his role and thrives when expectations are clear. That kind of maturity matters, especially on a Celtics team that has repeatedly emphasized chemistry, selflessness, and buy-in as key pillars of its culture.
From a financial standpoint, the deal is also favorable for Boston. The $3.3 million salary is well within the Celtics’ financial structure, especially considering the franchise is navigating the NBA’s new second apron tax rules. In an environment where cost control and contract flexibility are more important than ever, adding a veteran contributor for this price represents strong value. It also maintains roster flexibility should further trades or signings become necessary closer to the deadline.
Another subtle benefit of the Boucher signing is his familiarity with the Eastern Conference, and particularly with the Celtics. Having played in the Atlantic Division his entire career, Boucher has seen Boston’s core up close over many playoff and regular season battles. His understanding of their schemes, style, and expectations could ease the transition into a new system. It wouldn’t be surprising if Boucher hits the ground running in camp and quickly earns trust from Mazzulla and the coaching staff.
There’s also a motivational aspect at play. For Boucher, this one-year deal represents a proving ground. If he can reestablish himself as a consistent contributor on one of the league’s best teams, it could pave the way for another multi-year contract next summer — whether with Boston or elsewhere. These kinds of contracts often bring out the best in players who still have gas in the tank and something to prove.
As for Boston’s bigger picture, the addition of Boucher further reinforces the idea that this franchise is going all-in to maximize the current championship window. With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis forming the heart of the lineup — and key reserves like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard returning — the team has few holes. But injuries and fatigue are always a factor in a long season, and the Celtics have learned from past playoff runs that every bench player can be vital in certain moments.
Boucher could be that type of player. In a pivotal playoff game where Boston needs extra length to defend a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Bam Adebayo, or when the Celtics’ offense stagnates and needs an energy burst in transition, Boucher might be the answer. He doesn’t need plays run for him. He doesn’t need high usage. He simply needs to be put in positions to use his instincts, energy, and length — and Boston’s system is well-suited to do exactly that.
The Celtics’ front office deserves credit for identifying opportunities to improve around the margins. This move isn’t flashy, and it probably won’t make waves on national talk shows. But in the context of a long season and a grueling playoff push, players like Chris Boucher often end up playing crucial roles. Think of Jeff Green’s impact on the Nuggets in their 2023 title run or Otto Porter Jr.’s key minutes for Golden State the year before. These are the kinds of signings that add up.
If Boucher delivers what the Celtics are hoping — rim protection, hustle plays, floor spacing, and locker-room steadiness — this contract could be one of the offseason’s most efficient moves. And if he exceeds expectations and recaptures his 2021 form, the Celtics may have just found one of the best value additions in the league.
There’s no question that Boston enters the 2025–26 season as one of the top contenders. The core is elite. The coaching staff is stable. The hunger for Banner 18 is real. Now, with another versatile piece in Chris Boucher added to the puzzle, the Celtics are not just resting on their laurels — they’re tightening every screw and reinforcing every corner of the roster. It’s the type of move championship teams make.
Only time will tell how impactful Boucher’s presence will be in green and white. But for now, Boston fans should see this for what it is — a calculated, intelligent signing by a franchise that’s thinking not just about who starts Game 1, but who might be the difference-maker in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Chris Boucher won’t carry this team, but he might help push it just a little closer to another banner hanging in the rafters of TD Garden.
