The Celtics’ latest guard addition changes the shape of their backcourt, and it leaves Payton Pritchard in a spot he’s been too good to stay in for long: the starting five.
Boston added Mike Conley, but the veteran’s age and decline last season point to a limited role. Conley turns 39 before opening night, and at this stage he should be a 15 to 20 minute per game option.
That makes him the reserve point guard, not the centerpiece of the second unit. And once that happens, Pritchard has to move up.
That’s a tough ask on paper because Pritchard was clearly better as a sixth man last season. The 6’1 guard posted a 60.7 true shooting percentage off the bench, which was 3.5 percent higher than when he started.
His scoring and efficiency both jumped in that role, and his shooting numbers backed it up too: 47.7 percent from the field as a reserve, compared to 45.6 percent as a starter. He also hit 42.9 percent of his 3-point attempts coming off the bench, while that number dropped to 34.8 percent in the starting lineup.
Still, the Celtics can’t keep two undersized guards buried together in the bench backcourt. If Conley is in the rotation, Pritchard becomes the obvious fifth starter.
Boston already has Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Paul George locked into the first four spots. Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson are set to compete for the starting center job.
That leaves Joe Mazzulla with choices, but Pritchard is the cleanest fit if the goal is to keep Conley in a reserve role.
It’s also the role Boston will need from him. Pritchard’s scoring and shot creation become more valuable with the opening group, even if that isn’t the best-case scenario for a guard who has built his reputation on destroying second units.
He won Sixth Man of the Year in 2025 and might have had another shot at it last season if he hadn’t started 50 games. Before that, he even asked for a trade when minutes were hard to come by, and the Celtics made the right call by holding onto him.
What makes this even more interesting is how much the bench could benefit from Conley’s presence. His defense has issues, but bringing him off the bench should help cover those up while giving Boston a veteran voice for its younger wings. That matters for Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman as they try to take another step forward.
Pritchard’s starter numbers show he can handle the load, too. Last season, he averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game as a starter.
He was a below-average 3-point shooter in that stretch, but the Celtics didn’t have Jayson Tatum healthy to create cleaner looks for him. With Tatum back, the game should open up more for Pritchard.
And Boston may need that offense. With Jaylen Brown on the Philadelphia 76ers and Paul George functioning more like a 3-and-D wing at this point, the Celtics need another scorer.
Pritchard is the most obvious answer. He’s 28, he’s in his prime, and the opportunity in front of him is bigger than ever.
So while it may not be his favorite role, the path is clear: Conley backs up the point, and Pritchard starts. Boston will ask him to play around 32 minutes a night and shoulder the biggest offensive opportunity of his career. Given what he’s already shown, betting against him still doesn’t feel wise.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Is Back In A Celtics Trade Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Kyrie Irving is back in the middle of a familiar kind of NBA conversation, this time because of what the Mavericks might do as they map out the roster around Cooper Flagg. Irvings recent injury and his age are part of the discussion, and the idea of reshaping Dallas with an eye toward future assets has reopened a trade framework that pulls Boston and Golden State into the mix. For Celtics fans, it is the kind of proposal that instantly gets attention because it touches both the present and the long view.
The speculative deal would send pieces and draft capital in different directions, with Dallas looking to stockpile flexibility while Boston and the Warriors would be trying to address specific roster needs. It is the sort of three-team concept that rarely stays hypothetical for long once it starts circulating, especially with Irving involved, because his name still carries both the history of his Celtics stint and the practical question of what kind of value he could return in a broader swap. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Just Gave Celtics Fans A Reason To Keep Dreaming
Stephen Currys contract situation just added another layer to the long-running daydreams that tend to follow a superstar of his stature. Beginning Aug. 29, he becomes eligible to sign an extension with the Warriors, and under the NBAs Over-38 rule the most he can get is a two-year deal. His current contract already runs through the 2026-27 season, so there is no immediate urgency, but the calendar now opens a new window for Golden State to decide how it wants to handle the final stretch of Currys career.
For Celtics fans, the appeal is obvious even if the reality remains a lot murkier. Rumors about a possible trade to Boston have floated around, but there has been no credible reporting to give them real weight, and Curry would still be headed toward unrestricted free agency after his current deal expires. Still, once a player of his magnitude is eligible for a new extension, every team with a championship-sized imagination has reason to pay attention, even if the path to actually landing him remains distant. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Might Be Exactly What Tatum Still Needs
Paul Georges resume still carries real weight. A six-time All-NBA selection and nine-time All-Star, he has spent much of his career as a primary scorer on teams good enough to reach the conference finals, and even at 36 he has continued to produce at a level that keeps him in the conversation as more than just a name on paper. Over the past two seasons, he has averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 made 3s per game, a reminder that his game still travels well even as the role around him changes.
For the Celtics, the appeal is obvious: George brings shooting, size and the kind of two-way versatility that can ease pressure on Jayson Tatum without asking for the spotlight to shift. Boston has plenty of reasons to value players who can score without needing every possession, and Georges ability to complement elite talent makes him an intriguing fit on paper. The bigger question is whether that fit becomes real, and if so, how much of his best version is still available for a contender trying to squeeze every edge from its roster. [Read more 🡒]