24 Khem Birch C

Birch registered 18 points (8-15 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 14 rebounds, four assists and one steal in 41 minutes during Sunday's 125-113 loss to the Pacers.

The 28-year-old has now scored double-digit points in seven straight games, a span in which he's averaging 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Birch averaged career highs in points (7.2), rebounds (5.8), assists (1.3), steals (0.7) and blocks (0.8) through 67 games in his fourth NBA season. He heads into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Birch posted 14 points (6-13 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-3 FT), five rebounds, two assists and two steals across 28 minutes in Thursday's 114-102 loss to the Bulls.

Birch was the only regular starter on the floor in the loss. His inclusion is a bit puzzling, but it could be an indication that the team wants to keep Birch around next season or, at the very least, see what he can do with extended minutes down the stretch. It's almost a foregone conclusion that the Raptors want Chris Boucher to be their center of the future, but he'll need some support from the bench, and Aron Baynes doesn't appear to be a viable solution.

Birch scored 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-3 FT) to go along with four rebounds, three assists and one block across 31 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Clippers.

Birch scored in double digits for the eighth time in his last 10 games. He also returned to his typical efficient shooting from the field after shooting just 4-for-11 in his previous game. Birch's production didn't stand out in any other way, though he's averaged 8.2 boards and 1.2 blocks per game in that same 10-game span.

Birch tallied 10 points (4-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-3 FT), six rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in 26 minutes during Saturday's 109-99 loss to the Grizzlies.

The 28-year-old has now scored double-digit points in seven out of his last eight games -- a span in which he's averaging 13.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. Birch has started the last 13 games for the 12th-seeded Raptors, which is a trend that should continue the rest of the way. The fourth-year center will look to keep his solid production going Tuesday at home against the Clippers.

Birch finished Saturday's loss to Utah with 17 points (8-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt), 10 rebounds, six assists and a steal across 35 minutes.

Birch started his ninth straight contest and held his own against Rudy Gobert and a tough Utah defense, notching his fifth double-double of the campaign and setting a season high in assists. The fourth-year big man also knocked in his third three-pointer over the past two games, which qualifies as an interesting development for fantasy purposes given that Birch had hit just seven treys across his first 57 contests.

Birch recorded 20 points (8-10 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 2-4 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot across 35 minutes in Thursday's 121-11 loss to the Nuggets.

Birch has turned out to be a valuable addition to the team after being waived by the Magic. The excellent play of Wendell Carter made Birch expendable in Orlando, but he joined the Raptors just in time. With Chris Boucher (knee) out for at least another week, Toronto's frontcourt was in desperate need of another big man, and Birch fits the bill. He's recorded one double-double with his new team and came very close to that milestone again in Thursday's loss.

Birch collected 13 points (5-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist and one block in a 116-103 loss to the Nets on Tuesday.

Birch recorded his first double-double since joining the Raptors on April 10. The center has seen an increase in opportunities with Chris Boucher (knee) missing the team's last three games. Birch has averaged 11.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals across 31.3 minutes per game over that stretch.

Birch scored 14 points (7-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt) to go along with six rebounds, two steals, two blocks and one assist across 29 minutes in Monday's win over the Cavaliers.

Birch remained in the starting lineup for the sixth consecutive game, and he has played fewer than 29 minutes on only one occasion in that span. He matched his best scoring night of the season based on his efficient shooting. However, Birch's box score stands out from a defensive perspective, and he now has multiple blocks and one steal in three of his last six games.

Birch has averaged 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 assists in 27.0 minutes per game across his last four appearances for Toronto.

Birch has started in each of those four contests, but his inclusion on the top unit in Wednesday's 114-103 win over Brooklyn was particularly notable because the Raptors had their full complement of key rotation payers available for the first time in weeks. The 28-year-old received the nod at center over Chris Boucher, and Birch's outlook for playing time moving forward was likely strengthened by Boucher exiting the contest with a knee injury. Boucher will undergo an MRI on Thursday before the Raptors provide a timeline for his return, but the likelihood that he'll miss some action should only help Birch. Though Birch's upside is limited by his typical low usage on offense, he'll at least make for an intriguing short-term pickup with Toronto set to play five games next week. Freddie Gillespie and Aron Baynes could also factor more prominently into the mix at center if Boucher misses time.

Birch posted seven points (3-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, one steal and three blocks in 26 minutes during Friday's win over the Magic.

The 28-year-old received his second straight start for the Raptors and delivered another useful fantasy line. Over his past two games as a starter, Birch is averaging 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. The fourth-year center has now played at least 25 minutes over his past three games and should continue seeing 25-plus minutes for a Raptors team desperate for steady center production.

Birch scored 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 FT) to go along with six rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal across 29 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Spurs.

Birch entered the starting lineup for the first time as a Raptor and filled the stat sheet defensively, recording multiple blocks for the eighth time this season. He also matched a season-best 14 points with very efficient shooting. Any continued increase in role for Birch could cut into playing time for Chris Boucher once the team returns to health, though that's not set in stone.

Birch will start Wednesday's contest against the Spurs, Aaron Rose of SI.com reports.

Birch will get his first start for the Raptors -- a team that's been desperate for steady center production all season. The result could be fewer minutes for Chris Boucher and Aron Baynes. Since the start of March, Birch has averaged 4.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 18.7 minutes.

Birch scored 13 points (5-6 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-3 FT) while adding seven rebounds, two steals and a block in 25 minutes off the bench during Tuesday's loss to the Hawks.

In only his second game as a Raptor, Birch saw a significant role in the frontcourt rotation behind starting center Chris Boucher, who was less than effective with only four points and three boards in 24 minutes. With Aron Baynes (DNP) on the outs for coach Nick Nurse, there could be an opening for Birch to generate consistent, if modest, fantasy value down the stretch.

Birch played 18 minutes Sunday in the Raptors' 102-96 loss to the Knicks, compiling four points (2-4 FG, 0-2 FT) and five boards.

Making his Toronto debut, Birch's playing time was consistent with what he received over his 48 appearances with Orlando earlier this season (19.8 minutes per game). He may have the chance to see a slight uptick in minutes or even start at center once he gets more integrated with the team, but the biggest fantasy implications in play here concern Chris Boucher, who could lose some value due to Birch's arrival. Birch already looks to have supplanted Aron Baynes in the rotation, as the latter didn't play in Sunday's loss in a coach's decision.

Birch is not listed on the injury report after signing with Toronto on Saturday.

It's unclear if Birch will immediately be in the rotation, but he's not on the injury report and looks to be available for Sunday's game. Birch likely would receive a decent amount of backup center minutes when he joins the rotation.

Birch cleared waivers Saturday and has signed with the Raptors, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Birch won't be available for Saturday's game against the Knicks but could join the team as early as Sunday. It's unclear if he'll be deployed into the rotation right away, but he'll eventually mix in at center along with Chris Boucher and Aron Baynes.

Birch is set to sign with Toronto when he clears waivers later Saturday, but he won't be available for the Raptors' game against the Cavaliers, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.

Birch could have an outside shot at being available for the second half of the back-to-back set Sunday with the Knicks, but the Raptors may prefer to see him in a practice setting before deploying him in a game. Once the Raptors are comfortable with him playing, Birch will likely factor into the mix at center and take away some minutes from either or both of Chris Boucher and Aron Baynes.

The Magic are planning to cut Birch, who is expected to sign with the Raptors upon clearing waivers, Shams Charania and Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports.

Birch has served as the main backup to Nikola Vucevic for much of the last four seasons in Orlando, but the pending unrestricted free agent isn't considered a key piece for the 17-34 Magic in their rebuilding effort. Though Vucevic has since been dealt to Chicago, the Magic received a new young center to build around in Wendell Carter, and 2018 lottery pick Mo Bamba also remains on the books through 2021-22. While returning from a two-game absence due to an illness in Wednesday's 131-116 loss to the Wizards, Birch was the clear third option at center behind Carter and Bamba, finishing with zero points (0-2 FG), two rebounds, one assist and one steal. He should find more opportunity with a Raptors squad that has received up-and-down play this season from its primary centers, Chris Boucher and Aron Baynes.

Birch (illness) will come off the bench Wednesday against the Wizards.

Wendell Carter will remain in the starting five, as he's played well while Birch has been shelved due to an illness. In 42 appearances off the bench this season, Birch has averaged 5.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.0 minutes.

Birch (illness) is available for Wednesday's game against the Wizards.

The center has missed the past two games due to a non-COVID illness. That's vaulted Wendell Carter into the starting center spot, where he's played well. It's unclear whether Birch will reclaim his stating spot.