As the NBA trade deadline approaches, fans are thinking about blockbuster deals. So are NBA front offices. That said, general managers are also thinking about more incremental deals.
That’s especially true for contending teams. Mostly, they don’t have the assets to make a blockbuster. Many of the best teams in the NBA will have to be content with making a more marginal upgrade.
Take the Los Angeles Clippers. They don’t have much to offer. If the Clippers are going to make an upgrade, it’s likely to be a small one. Could they afford Chris Boucher of the Toronto Raptors?
NBA Trade Proposal
Toronto Raptors Receive: F P.J. Tucker, 2024 Second-Round Pick (IND, UTA or CLE via LAC), 2030 Second-Round Pick (LAC)
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: F/C Chris Boucher
That said, we may not see as many blockbusters at this year’s deadline as we normally do. This is expected to be a buyer’s market. With that in mind, more teams than usual will stand pat.
Moreover, it may be a quiet deadline for another reason. It’s been an atypically busy trade season already. With that in mind, the year’s biggest deals may have already been made.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
The Raptors have made some of the biggest ones. They sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers. Before that, they moved OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks.
Could Boucher be next on the chopping block?
Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
Sure. The Raptors are rebuilding. They might as well get whatever they can for the veterans they have left. Outside of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and perhaps Gradey Dick, nobody should be off the table.
The Raptors won’t get a haul for Boucher. He’s a flawed player. Boucher is inconsistent on defense, and his shot also comes and goes. With that in mind, a pair of second-rounds ought to suffice.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
There’s some benefit in reuniting with Tucker as well. He’s an ideal mentor for this suddenly young Raptors team. Barnes, in particular, could learn a lot from him.
Should the Clippers part with him?
Why The Los Angeles Clippers Do The Deal
Boucher may be flawed. Tucker is near the end of his career. At this point, he’s not a rotation player on a contending team.
Boucher meets that threshold. He may be flawed, but he is a strong weak side shot blocker. Boucher also offers some floor spacing, even if he’s not a knockdown threat. He’d be a significant upgrade over Tucker for this squad.
Meanwhile, the Clippers shouldn’t balk at the cost of two second-round picks. That’s inconsequential for a contending team.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
The Clippers should be focused on making marginal upgrades to their roster. After all, they’ve already made their blockbuster deals.
