Free-agent Chris Boucher signed a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics for just $3.3 million, a deal the Detroit Pistons may have considered.
Much has been made of the Pistons’ lack of depth behind Tobias Harris and Boucher was a realistic option who can also play a little small-ball center.
Boucher appeared in just 50 games for the Raptors last season after they committed to going younger but still averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 36 percent from long range on nearly four attempts per game.
Harris has always been a reliable player who can handle big minutes, but the Pistons could end up regretting their lack of depth behind him.
The Detroit Pistons are putting a lot on Ron Holland II
The Pistons are hoping second-year player Ron Holland II will step into more power forward minutes next season, but it’s not his best position and he will face size mismatches at times but also creates mismatches of his own with his quickness.
Detroit also has Ausar Thompson who can play there in stretches, so it’s not like the cupboard is completely bare.
But any injury to a big man would put the Pistons in a tough spot, which is why it is somewhat surprising that they haven’t added some inexpensive depth.
Boucher also offers the kind of floor spacing that the Pistons don’t currently have until Holland proves that his Summer League shooting is real.
It appears the Pistons are content to go into next season with the roster they have to go along with the financial flexibility to make future moves if they need them. But they might have pre-empted that by signing a guy like Boucher now, who at least offers short-term insurance against an injury.
Detroit had relatively good health last season and will need it again, as an injury to any of their current nine-man rotation would have a ripple effect. The Pistons may feel they already have some emergency backup in place with their two-way contracts, but a proven veteran and solid teammate like Boucher wouldn’t have hurt.
It will be interesting to see if the Pistons make another move or are saving those roster spots for something larger in the future, but they do still have two open spots, and the free-agent market gets sparser by the day.
Boucher was not a player who was going to move the needle for the Pistons, but he could have provided valuable depth at a cheap cost.