The NBA trade deadline provides an opportunity for teams to improve for a playoff push, and the Philadelphia 76ers could look to do just that.
The Sixers will be limited in what they can do at the deadline as a huge chunk of their salary is tied up in three players – Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey – and a blockbuster deal involving any of those three is extremely unlikely.
76ers interested in Celtics forward Chris Boucher
So, the Sixers will have to look to upgrade around the edges, and a two-time NBA champion could be a potential target.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Sixers have expressed “exploratory” interest in Boston Celtics forward Chris Boucher. The Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns have also shown similar interest.
Philadelphia’s interest in Boucher makes sense since he has a previous relationship with head coach Nick Nurse, who coached Boucher in Toronto for several seasons. Boucher was part of the Raptors team that won the first NBA title in franchise history in 2019.
Boucher signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Celtics over the offseason, but he has been a complete non-factor in Boston. He’s appeared in only eight games and played just 91 total minutes this season.
So, one would think that the Celtics would be open to moving him for a reasonable price, and given his relatively small contract, it’s a move that the Sixers would be able to swing. Nurse has an affinity for long, rangy, athletic players, and Boucher fits the bill, so perhaps he’ll push for a reunion.
If added, Boucher would provide the Sixers with some additional frontcourt depth and a guy who could play a couple of positions. Per Basketball Reference, Boucher has spent an estimated 37 percent of his total minutes played at power forward and 32 percent at center.
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