The Toronto Raptors announced the signing of Canadian Chris Boucher to a two-way contract on Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed as per team policy.
After playing four games with the Raptors at the Las Vegas Summer League with averages of 10.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game, Boucher signed an Exhibit 10 contract on July 20 in hopes of turning it into a two-way opportunity.
In the preseason, Boucher was played sparingly but showed promise in the minutes he was given by head coach Nick Nurse.
B👌🏽UCHER
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 12, 2018
Raps 106 - 103 Pels
Shoutout to the @PelicansNBA for the vids tonight 🙌🏽 #NoBroadcast pic.twitter.com/7rdekoxVV7
The Canadian told NBA.com that all he needed was an opportunity and he was rewarded on Friday.
"When you come to training camp you feel like you have an opportunity to make the team or make a difference," Boucher said ahead of the preseason.
"I came here trying to get better, try to get to know the guys and just see what I could do to help the team win. Training camp is the opportunity for you to make a name for yourself and show what you're capable of doing.
"I came here with an open mind and just try to show what I can do."
Scouting Report
Boucher fits the mould of a modern-day big man.
Standing at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Boucher came into the NBA with the reputation of a being a dominant rim protector. He showcased that side of his game in Summer League and in his limited minutes in preseason, as he blocked a total of five shots in only 18 minutes of action.
For Boucher to have sustained success on that end of the floor in the NBA, he likely needs to add to his slight 200-pound frame to take the pounding of an NBA grind.
As for his offence, Boucher is comfortable stepping out to the perimeter with a smooth shooting stroke for a player his size. He drained a couple of 3-pointers down the stretch of Toronto's preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets and made one more in the team's preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans.
CHRIS BOUCHER corner three... 💰👌 #NBACanadaSeries pic.twitter.com/sQIuSUbuuW
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) October 11, 2018
At his size with his explosiveness, Boucher is also more than capable of playing above the rim as an alley-oop target. It's a role he thrived in during his two years at Oregon before he tore his ACL.
Boucher will likely spend most of 2018-19 in the G League, where he played 20 games with the Santa Cruz Warriors last season and posted averages of 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 22.2 minutes per contest.