Raptors likely to trade final player from 2019 championship team?

The Toronto Raptors may be ready to fully close the book on their 2019 title team less than five years later.

Blake Murphy of Sportsnet said over the weekend during an appearance on “The Raptors Show” that Toronto is likely to trade veteran big man Chris Boucher ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline.

“Chris Boucher is going to have a new home at some point,” said Murphy. “I can tell you in fairly certain terms that’s being explored and will probably happen by Feb. 8.”

The 31-year-old Boucher, who is under contract through 2025, has been with the Raptors since 2018. He is also the last man standing from Toronto’s 2018-19 squad, which produced the only championship in franchise history. 

OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, two other members of that title team, have both been traded away by the Raptors in the last month. Fred VanVleet and head coach Nick Nurse were also among those from that team who left this past summer.

Boucher, a very versatile player who hits threes and can defend both at the rim and in space, should have a strong market if Toronto does indeed decide to trade him. 

Just a couple weeks ago, a top NBA contender was linked to a possible move for Boucher.