Montreal's Khem Birch is expected to sign with the Toronto Raptors

Montreal’s own Khem Birch has played an integral role on the Orlando Magic roster since signing with the team in 2017. As a big man, Birch added depth to the team’s bench with his rebounding skills. However, it seems as if Birch’s time with the Magic is coming to an end.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Khem Birch will be waived by the Orlando Magic later this week. Upon his release from the team, Birch is expected to sign with the Toronto Raptors.

The Orlando Magic are planning to waive center Khem Birch in order to give him an opportunity to play more, with the Toronto Raptors as his likely landing spot, sources tell me and @JoshuaBRobbins. Birch is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2021

If the signing is successful, this will mean that Birch leaves one Montreal teammate to play with another. This year’s Orlando Magic roster includes the addition of rookie Karim Mane. Mane is the first NBA player in history to go from CEGEP directly into the league. Mane recently won a NBA G-League Championship with Orlando’s minor league affiliate Lakeland Magic.

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With the Toronto Raptors, Birch will play alongside Chris Boucher, a fellow centre who serves as an undeniable highlight of an otherwise rocky Raptors season.

The Orlando Magic have blown up their roster in the past few weeks. They traded their three star players: Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. Waiving Birch could be seen as a further effort to flop in an attempt to rank higher in the forthcoming 2021 NBA Draft.

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