Chris Boucher signed a one-year $3.3 million deal with the Boston Celtics after remaining unsigned for much of the offseason. The Celtics have shed salary and roster pieces following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and likely letting Al Horford depart. That sequence left the Celtics with reduced frontcourt depth; former centers Porzingis, Horford and Luke Kornet are gone, replaced by Xavier Tillman, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. Boucher offers greater immediate interior production and should be considered a starting option. The one-year contract functions as a bet-on-yourself opportunity that could translate into a bigger payday next offseason.
but I believe the circumstances suggest more of a bet-on-yourself move (shout out Fred VanVleet) for Boucher. Boston has made it very clear to the NBA world that after losing Jayson Tatum to a gutting Achilles injury and facing a growing luxury tax, they were not shy about shedding dollars across the board, trading key pieces from their title run like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and likely letting Al Horford walk in free agency.
Just a year ago, their center depth included Porzingis, Horford, and Luke Kornet, and now all three are gone. The new big-man depth in the fallout? Xavier Tillman, Neemias Queta, and Luka Garza. No disrespect at all, but I believe Chris Boucher should start over all three of those guys (maybe an argument could be made for Queta, I actually think he's extremely underrated) and be the starting center on opening night and beyond.
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