Monday is the unofficial start date of the trade season in the NBA. Players who signed as free agents in the offseason become eligible to be traded on Dec. 15, meaning that 79 players have now entered the trade market, per Hoops Rumors' calculations.
On this list are three Boston Celtics: Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and Chris Boucher. Among these three, Boucher is the most likely Celtic to be traded, as he has quickly fallen out of the rotation since his acquisition over the summer.
Minott has been an important part of the rotation, even starting nine games. Garza has been in and out of the rotation, but has firmly been behind Neemias Queta in the pecking order. Even then, he is more of a part of the plan for head coach Joe Mazzulla than Boucher has been.
Chris Boucher's Time in Boston May Be Coming to an End
Boucher has not suited up for the Celtics since Nov. 23. Even though the Celtics' center depth was considered a weakness before the season, Boucher has not been able to make a difference. On paper, the 32-year-old is a good fit for Mazzulla-ball. He can space the floor with his shooting and protect the rim on the other end. In reality, however, Boucher is 1-of-12 from three (8.3%) and 7-of-22 from the field (31.8%) for the season, leading to his being an afterthought in Boston.
It's not like there will be a long list of suitors for Boucher's services. But, he can help a team as a deep bench option and has an expiring salary of $2.3 million. This makes him a potential throw-in to match salaries in trades, as acquiring teams won't see him as a negative asset.
Whether the Celtics will be buyers or sellers at the deadline, however, remains a fascinating question. General manager Brad Stevens notably doesn't leave any stone unturned. Yet, there are strong arguments for both. The Celtics can become an Eastern Conference contender this season with minor upgrades, even if Jayson Tatum doesn't return. At the same time, the Celtics presumably have a better chance of contending next season when Tatum is back to 100%. Saving your assets for the offseason to build around Tatum could have its advantages.
Regardless of the direction of the organization at the deadline, Boucher isn't long for the Celtics. Using his roster spot on someone more athletic on the perimeter, who can ideally shoot and defend a little, should be a priority for the Celtics. Whether they can pull it off remains to be seen.