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According to reports, The Toronto Raptors have extended a one-year qualifying offer to Chris Boucher. Malcolm Miller, on the other hand, looks to be the odd man out.
The Toronto Raptors have extended a qualifying offer to Chris Boucher, a league source told @HoopsHype. Boucher becomes a restricted free agent. He led the team in blocks per game (1.0) last season.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 19, 2020
By extending this offer, which comes in at around $2 million as mandated by the CBA (based on Boucher’s previous salary and years of service) the Raptors retain Boucher’s restricted free agency rights — which in turn means that the Raptors have the right to match any offer sheet Boucher signs with another team.
If Boucher were to sign this offer, he’d remain with the Raptors for the upcoming 2020-21 season and become an unrestricted free agent in the 2021 offseason. It seems more likely that Chris will play the market this summer and see what kind of offers he receives.
It’s not entirely clear what the market will be for Boucher, but his motor and shot-blocking are sure to have gotten notice around the league.
The Raptors have similar offers to make, if they choose, to Malcolm Miller and Oshae Brissett. It seems likely Brissett will receive one (and also not sign), but it sounds like Miller may not:
The Raptors will NOT be issuing Malcolm Miller a qualifying offer, per a source.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) November 19, 2020
Miller becomes a UFA who should have at least some camp offers for teams that need shooters. I still think he can be an NBA guy, just time to try it somewhere new.
This makes sense, as unfortunate as it is. Given Miller’s years of service and, ahem, moderate production, it makes sense for the Raptors to cut him loose and use the roster spot on another prospect.
Boucher averaged career-highs of 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13 minutes last season, and led the team in blocks at 1.0 per game. Overall, Boucher filled in admirably at centre for the injury-riddled Raps, and had several highlight moments, including impressive contributions on both ends of the floor during the Raptors’ historic 30-point comeback against the Mavericks last December.
Miller also played well in that comeback, but didn’t make much of an impact otherwise. In 53 appearances for the Raps over the past three seasons, he averaged two points on 43% shooting, including 40% from downtown. He leaves Toronto with a championship ring, though, which is nothing to sneeze at!