The Boston Celtics have continued to make strategic adjustments ahead of the NBA trade deadline, completing their second trade of the week. According to reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics have traded Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz. In this deal, Boston also included a 2027 second-round pick from Denver.
Boucher was signed as a free agent last offseason after spending seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors. However, he struggled to find a consistent role under head coach Joe Mazzulla, participating in just nine games throughout the season.
The decision to trade Boucher, whose contract expires at $2.3 million, will assist the Celtics in getting closer to the luxury tax threshold, currently only $3.6 million over it after this move. Additionally, trading Boucher has opened up a roster spot for potential further transactions before the deadline. Earlier this week, the team successfully acquired center Nikola Vucevic along with another second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls, sending guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick in return.
As the Celtics look to refine their roster and strengthen their chances for a successful playoff run, these moves reflect their proactive approach in managing team dynamics leading up to the crunch time of the season.