Just hours after the Celtics traded Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, the big man is expected to be on the search for a new home. The 33-year-old big man is going to get bought out by the Jazz, according to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.
Boston sent Utah a 2027 second-round pick from the Nuggets with Boucher to move off the big man’s salary and open up a roster spot, sources told MassLive. The deal helped Boston reduce their luxury tax bill while opening the door for the team to sign Amari Williams to a two-year contract to join the 15-man roster.
The Jazz clearly did not have plans for Boucher amid a rebuild, and now he will look for an opportunity on the free agent market with a playoff team around the league. He will become an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers.
Boucher had played in just one game for Boston since Nov. 23 after falling out of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. The 33-year-old is averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in nine games this year but is a 33 percent career 3-point shooter.
Boucher was not active for Boston’s last two games as trade rumors swirled for ‘personal reasons.’ The team acquired Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline to bolster their frontcourt as well along with promoting Williams in place of Boucher.