The idea that Payton Pritchard could grow into the next Jalen Brunson is drawing a hard eye-roll from one insider, and for good reason. Boston’s belief, at least as reported, is that moving on from Jaylen Brown can still make sense because of what Pritchard might become. But that leap has plenty of people pushing back fast.
Pritchard is a useful player, no question. He’s a smaller guard who can help a team, but the report itself frames him more like a fifth or sixth man than a centerpiece. That’s a long way from the kind of impact Brunson has delivered in recent years.
The Brunson comparison is what set this off, and it’s the part that feels so over the top. Brunson has spent the last few seasons proving he’s one of the rare small guards who can bend a defense to his will. That’s not a casual comp, and it’s not something you hand out just because another undersized guard can shoot it.
Zach Lowe didn’t bother softening the critique. “Please miss me with the Boston thinks Payton Pritchard is going to be Jalen Brunson talk.
Did you just see Jalen Brunson? Just see what that dude did in the Finals?
I love Payton Pritchard. He’s not going to be Jalen Brunson,” Lowe wrote, H/T Sportsnaut.
And stylistically, the gap is obvious. Brunson is the guy who can create offense by breaking down a defense.
Pritchard’s value comes more from his three-point shooting. That doesn’t make Pritchard unplayable or unimportant.
It just makes the comparison look, as the source puts it, flat-out ridiculous.
In Other News...
Celtics Fans Just Got The Dillon Mitchell Sign They Were Hoping For
The Celtics kept rolling in Las Vegas, moving to 2-0 at NBA Summer League with a win over the Hornets, and Dillon Mitchell was at the center of it. Bostons No. 40 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft led the way with 24 points, while also piling up eight rebounds, six steals and two blocks in a performance that gave the team plenty to like on both ends.
Mitchells value for Boston has always been tied to his energy and versatility, but this was a more complete showing than the one he put together in college. He attacked the glass, created turnovers and looked far more comfortable as a scorer, the kind of all-around line that can make a front office take notice even in the middle of summer league. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-night flash or the first real sign that he can carry that growth into the next stage. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Made A Franchise Shaking Bet Fans Will Debate
The Celtics have taken a swing that will reshape the roster and the conversation around it, adding Paul George and future draft picks in a move that signals a willingness to chase a different kind of ceiling. According to the teams official release, the deal comes with multiple future selections and conditions attached, the sort of fine print that can matter just as much as the headline in a trade this large.
George arrives with plenty of name value, but also with real questions after two seasons in Philadelphia that were defined by injuries and uneven production. Boston is betting that the version of George it gets now can still tilt a playoff race, while the draft compensation gives the front office some insulation if the fit is not as seamless as the price tag suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Walsh Knows What Could Keep Him Off The Floor Late
Jordan Walsh spent last season carving out a real place in Bostons rotation, getting into 68 games and showing why the Celtics value his defensive versatility. He also flashed enough on offense to make this summer feel important, because the next step for a young wing on a contender is rarely about effort or activity. It is about becoming someone the coaching staff can trust when the game tightens and possessions get harder to find.
Walsh said during Summer League that his focus is on becoming a better scorer and playmaker, with the goal of giving himself more ways to stay on the floor late. He knows the margin is thin for wings in Boston, especially with the roster shifting around him, and he has pointed to the need to improve his shot, handle and ability to create his own offense in small pockets. The opportunity is there for him to grow into a bigger role, but so is the pressure to prove he can be more than a specialist when the Celtics need a bucket. [Read more 🡒]