Payton Pritchard may be headed for the kind of season that forces the Celtics to act fast.
With the Jaylen Brown trade changing Boston’s shape, Pritchard looks positioned for a bigger workload and a more central offensive role. That’s exactly why ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on a recent episode of the “Hoop Collective” podcast that the Celtics should think about getting a deal done now, while the price is still manageable.
“Payton Pritchard is extension-eligible, and he is on an extremely attractive contract -- $7.5 (million) this year, $8.5 million next year. ... I expect them, part of this, I think is they're going to boost Payton Pritchard's role even more and build out more for him. So if you think you're going to build an even bigger role for Payton Pritchard, it makes sense to sign him now before he maybe has even a bigger season than he did a year ago,” Windhorst said.
That warning makes plenty of sense if Boston really is about to lean on Pritchard more heavily. He’s already coming off a season in which he won Sixth Man of the Year for 2024-25, but the next step could be even bigger if he’s asked to handle the ball more and carry more of the scoring load.
There’s also a practical reason the Celtics may need that from him. With Brown gone and Paul George pretty much expected to miss half the season at this stage of his career, Boston needs more offense around Jayson Tatum. Pritchard could be the guy who helps fill that gap.
He’s shown what he can do when he starts. In 50 games in the starting lineup last season, Pritchard put up 16.9 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 45.6/34.8/86.7%.
The scoring part has never been the issue. Pritchard has long had the confidence to attack elite defenders, and his quickness makes him dangerous all over the floor.
The concern has always been whether he can stay steady when the burden gets heavier. He had a 32-point game in Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers last season, but he also followed that with a four-point outing in Game 2.
Still, if Boston is ready to give him more responsibility, that inconsistency may be something the Celtics are willing to live with. The bigger point is simple: if Pritchard is about to get a larger stage, the Celtics probably shouldn’t wait until he prices himself out of reach.
In Other News...
Celtics Just Sent A Clear Message About Tatums Inner Circle
Bostons decision to bring in Mike Conley Jr. says plenty about how this front office is thinking as it tries to keep the roster balanced without losing sight of the financial picture. Conley gives the Celtics a steadier backcourt option and a cleaner fit for what they want to do, while also keeping the conversation focused on practicality rather than splash.
Bradley Beals name naturally comes with more star power, but the Celtics have shown they are willing to pass on that kind of move if it complicates the cap or the rotation. It also fits a broader pattern in Boston, where Jayson Tatum has not been the driving force behind personnel calls, and this latest choice only reinforces how little room there seems to be for sentiment when the Celtics are weighing their next step. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Added A Familiar Problem Fans Know All Too Well
Bostons frontcourt got a lot more crowded when the Celtics brought in former Knicks center Mitch Robinson on a three-year, $47.1 million deal and then followed that by extending Neemias Queta for four years at $56 million. It is the kind of move that signals both urgency and confidence, giving Joe Mazzulla two centers with very different profiles and a roster wrinkle that should shape how Boston looks on both ends of the floor.
The bigger question now is how the Celtics sort out the minutes, because there is at least the possibility of a real starting-center battle here. Queta is already in place, Robinson arrives with a reputation that made him a problem for opponents, and Boston will spend the summer and early part of the season figuring out how much competition there really is and how comfortable each big man is with whatever role comes next. [Read more 🡒]