Raptors Trade Rumors: After Pascal Siakam’s Departure, Last Standing Member of Toronto’s 2019 Championship Squad Likely to Get Traded

It doesn’t take an expert to see that the Toronto Raptors are not having a good season. With a 16-27 record, they have sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Division and are 12th in ranking in the Eastern Conference. As a countermove, they have been trying new waters and just recently made a major roster restructuring by trading Pascal Siakam to the Pacers.

It appears as if they are starting to shed their veterans and adding more young players and potential draft picks. So, after letting go of Pascal, the next name on the table could be 2X NBA Champion Chris Boucher. As per sources, before the trade deadline arrives, the Raptors will be looking to trade Boucher.

Boucher could go, dismantling the Championship team

Blake Murphy shared on The Raptors Show with Will Lou, “The Raptors are very likely to trade Chris Boucher before the deadline.” It is interesting to note that both Siakam and Chris were the last remaining members of the Raptors team that brought Toronto their maiden Championship in 2019. So, if Boucher is traded, that would mean the end of an era. Even before the trade is finalized, we get a clear picture of what direction the Raptors are taking; they want to rebuild the team with a younger roster.

Boucher,31, has been averaging only 14.2 minutes of playtime per game this season. Compared to last season, he is also struggling with his numbers. The former G-League MVP has been averaging 6.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.3 steals. Boucher was part of the Warriors team that swept the Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals to lift a Championship. Chris Boucher aside, the Raptors are still active on the trade market for newly acquired Bruce Brown.

New deal is on the horizon for the Raptors

Brown landed with the Raptors on Wednesday as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Siakam to the Pacers. However, just as he is settling into his new role, Brown might have to bid adieu to Toronto in no time. According to several reports, teams have been frequently reaching out to the Raptors to find out about his availability. This includes the Knicks and the Lakers. The 27-year-old guard’s salary this year is set to be $22 million, with a $23 million team option for the following year.

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That means, this year, this salary cannot be muddled with other contracts in a trade. This gives the Raptors a little less wiggle room for Brown’s trade. Nonetheless, they are still weighing their options, vigilant in the market, and trying to secure a player who could potentially help them get out of the slump they’re in. If something good comes out of it, they are in no position to pass up on a good deal for Brown even if it means having to deal with the intricacies of contracts.

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