Canadian Khem Birch joining Raptors after being waived by Magic

Canadian centre Khem Birch is becoming a member of the Toronto Raptors.

The 28-year-old Birch joins fellow Montrealer Chris Boucher on the Raptors’ roster after the Orlando Magic waived the undrafted Canadian earlier this week.

Birch tweeted the information on Saturday, in a thanks message to Orlando.

“I’m lost for words on what the city of Orlando has meant to me & my family! Beyond grateful. I’m excited for the next chapter of my career with Γåòraptors,” Birch wrote.

The six-foot-nine Birch is averaging 5.9 factors and 5.1 rebounds in 19.eight minutes per sport this season with Orlando, however had been hoping for extra enjoying time.

He is positive to get that with the Raptors, who’ve been weak within the frontcourt since Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka left final low season.

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After his school profession at Pittsburgh and UNLV, Birch performed within the G League, Turkey and Greece earlier than signing with the Magic in 2017.

Birch was a part of a Magic staff that misplaced in 5 video games to the Raptors within the opening spherical of Toronto’s run to the NBA title in 2019.

Birch has expertise enjoying for Raptors coach Nick Nurse. He was certainly one of solely two NBA gamers – Cory Joseph was the opposite – to go well with up for the Nurse-coached Canadian squad on the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China in 2019

Boucher and Australian Aron Baynes are the opposite centres on Toronto’s roster.

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