The Celtics’ decision to move on from Jaylen Brown sent a jolt through the NBA, but Boston may already have its answer for how to keep the offense humming: Payton Pritchard.
After the team sent Brown to the division-rival Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, the focus quickly shifted to what comes next for a roster that also added Paul George, draft picks and more cap flexibility. One of the biggest bets Boston is making is that Pritchard is ready for a much bigger stage.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh, the Celtics appear to believe Pritchard could be their version of Jalen Brunson - a player who broke free from Luka Doncic’s shadow and took off. That kind of leap is a tall order, but the idea is clear: with a larger role, Pritchard could see his production climb fast.
This past season was already the best of Pritchard’s career. In a year when Jayson Tatum was out, he stepped into a bigger role and posted 17.6 points per game, 5.2 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 37.7% from 3.
The numbers got even louder in the three-game stretch when Boston was without both Brown and Tatum. Pritchard averaged 29 points per game, 5.33 rebounds per game and 5.33 assists per game in that sample, a strong hint that he can handle more responsibility when the offense runs through him.
If Boston is going to stay in the title mix, it needs players like Pritchard to keep rising. Joe Mazzulla’s system gives shooters room to thrive, and Pritchard fits that mold. If he grabs this opportunity, it could pay off for the Celtics and for Pritchard when he reaches his next contract.
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