Role Players Need Love Too

Back with one of my favorite pieces to write – Role Players Need Love Too. I am a huge fan of the little things the supporting casts bring to the table and below are just a few guys that deserve some recognition.

Chris Boucher – Toronto Raptors

Boucher is an incredibly unique player with his length and shooting ability. Whether it be parking himself in the corner and spacing the floor or using his absurd length on defense, Boucher is an impact player for the Raptors and deserved that 3 year, $35M contract that he signed this past offseason. Now, Boucher isn’t a sniper from downtown, but as a backup big, hitting 33% is a very respectable number. I am super excited to see how strong the Raptors are next year with a solid frontcourt rotation of Siakam, Poeltl, Boucher, and Achiuwa.

Paul Reed – Philadelphia 76ers

Energy and hustle is what the 76ers needed behind Embiid and Reed has emerged as the perfect backup center. Obviously Reed is undersized at 6’9 210 lbs. (a generous listing in my opinion), but he makes up for it with absurd energy that can change the momentum of any game. Whether it be offensive rebounds, strong putbacks, or blocks and deflections, Reed pops off the screen with his play and I’m here for it. Reed is only 23 years old and has enough skill and activity to carve out a long and successful career as a energy big off the bench.

Santi Aldama – Memphis Grizzlies

Aldama boasts an impressive blend of size and mobility which is great for a stretch 4/5 on the Grizzlies. The second year pro out of Loyala (MD) has flourished as a flexible stretch big for Memphis, as he has been averaging 9 PPG and 5 RPG on 47/36/75 shooting splits. Whether it be starting, the first big off the bench, or contributing limited minutes, Aldama has been a solid option as a mobile stretch big who has surprising athleticism and physicality. As a young player who isn’t afraid of bringing energy and toughness off the bench, Aldama has a bright future in this league and I expect him to secure a lucrative contract with the Grizzlies in the near future.