Toronto Raptors: Chris Boucher a stealthy good signing

The Toronto Raptors added Chris Boucher to their training camp roster after a stellar NBA Summer League performance.

A dearth of traditional big men was set to be the Toronto Raptors‘ biggest personnel issue this season; Chris Boucher may very well solve it.

Yahoo! Sports‘ Shams Charania was the first to report the free agent deal on Twitter last Friday. The training camp invite will give Boucher the opportunity to earn his way onto the roster, or at least onto a G League deal.

News of the deal comes on the heels of a solid NBA Summer League performance with Toronto’s team in Las Vegas.

In four contests, Boucher reminded fans of his shot-blocking prowess, honed during his college days with the Oregon Ducks. He swatted away 3.3 blocks per contest in four games. Boucher also averaged 10.8 points and 6.5 assists per game over the summer.

That performance was strong enough to parlay another shot at a permanent NBA role.

Despite proving to be a menace in the defensive paint, Boucher went undrafted in 2017 following the conclusion of his collegiate career at Oregon. This may have been a result of an ACL injury he suffered during his senior season, which prevented him from working out with teams before the draft.

The Golden State Warriors quickly scooped him up to a then-new two-way contract, where he mostly played for the Santa Cruz Warriors. In 20 games, he averaged 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while swatting away 2.1 shots per contest.

Yet he only managed to jump up to the NBA once during his time in Golden State. He played one unmemorable game on March 14, grabbing a single rebound and accomplishing little else of consequence in one minute.

Playing time simply wasn’t available with the defending champs, destined to win their third title in four years.

A better opportunity may be available north of the border.

After sending Jakob Poetl to San Antonio in the trade for Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors don’t have a ton of big men to spare. Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka are likely to find spots in Nick Nurse’s starting lineup. Behind them, however, only stands one big man: Pascal Siakam.

For the Raptors to make room to keep Boucher on for the regular season, they may need to trade away one of their guards. Delon Wright would appear to be the most likely to go. Before any of that happens, though, Boucher will have to show something he couldn’t quite muster in Santa Cruz.

Boucher was known for his incredible shot-blocking ability in college. During his senior season, he led the Pac-12 in blocks, averaging 2.6 swats per game.

He didn’t distinguish himself in that category in Santa Cruz, however, finishing eighth in the G League in blocks per game. Zhou Qi and Ivica Zubac are among those to best Boucher in that category.

The Raptors finished second in blocks in the NBA last season. The only team better? Boucher’s one-time NBA benefactor, the Golden State Warriors.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

Perhaps the Canadian national can help his new team supplant his old team in that category.