The New York Knicks will have some big decisions to make around the trade deadline, as they desperately need frontcourt depth. A new name has now surfaced on the trade block that the team has reported interest in.
The Knicks are interested in Chris Boucher
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Tuesday that the Knicks are among the teams that are interested in Raptors forward Chris Boucher. He also mentioned the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets as teams that have also expressed a desire to land him in a trade.
Boucher, 32, is in his eighth NBA season and seventh with the Raptors. His playing time has decreased over the years as Toronto is focusing on their younger players more, but Boucher has still made an impact in the playing time that he has gotten.
This season, he is averaging 10.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 41 games this season with an average of 17.5 minutes per game. He is also shooting 50% from the floor and 37% from three on a career-high 4.0 three-point attempts per game.
He could be an easy bench solution for the Knicks, as he brings a combination of size and scoring that they are badly missing in the frontcourt of the second unit. Boucher is also more durable than Mitchell Robinson, who has yet to play a game this season while nursing an ankle injury.
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Boucher could provide key frontcourt insurance
His playing time may not significantly change if he were to come to New York, but he could be a solid backup center option that can provide insurance in the event Karl-Anthony Towns either gets into foul trouble or suffers an injury. The Knicks have been searching for answers on who can play the backup center minutes, and while Precious Achiuwa has done a solid job, he is a bit undersized at only 6-8.
Boucher wouldn’t be an expensive cost either, as the Raptors would likely want young players or draft capital in exchange for the veteran. The Knicks have some second-round picks that they can move as well as some intriguing rookies such as Tyler Kolek or Pacome Dadiet that could entice Toronto.
The trade deadline is set for Feb. 6. The Knicks will need to start thinking about how they can fix their depth problem, and Boucher should be at the top of their wishlist.