Celtics, Payton Pritchard Agree to Long-Term Extension

Payton Pritchard averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 13.4 minutes per game last season. Now, he's poised to prove a rotation fixture.

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With the Boston Celtics' preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers hours away, the franchise has checked another task off of its offseason to-do list.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Boston's reached a four-year, $30 million extension with Payton Pritchard.

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Adding Malcolm Brogdon last summer made for a log jam in the Celtics' backcourt, resulting in the former Oregon Duck's minutes reducing from 14.1 in 2021-22 to 13.4 in the 2022-23 regular season.

But with Marcus Smart in Memphis and Jrue Holiday and Derrick White figuring to start most games, Pritchard's in line to become a rotation fixture.

Following Saturday's practice at the Auerbach Center, Sam Hauser expressed about the 25-year-old combo guard, "He's really, really been aggressive. He worked really hard this summer, and I think he's out for blood this year."

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Pritchard's seemingly had an excellent offseason in the gym, including while playing for Team USA Men's Basketball as a member of their select squad. He also got engaged this summer, and now, he's signed a lucrative new contract.

The deal also represents good business for Boston, who now has a valuable combo guard on a team-friendly deal and under contract for five more seasons, including the one about to start. That's even more valuable given the punitive nature of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement.

The Celtics are already one of the teams who crossed the second apron, which they were willing to do to acquire Holiday, who they've explicitly stated they want to sign to an extension. That drives home the importance of having rotation players on team-friendly contracts.

There's also the reality that if Boston, who's relying on Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford to pace each other throughout the upcoming campaign, lose one to injury or the Celtics decide they have to upgrade their depth at the pivot, Pritchard figures to be at the center of their trade talks around the league.

But for now, he gets to focus on his goal of helping the franchise that drafted him pursue Banner 18. And his extension makes it realistic for Boston to remain his NBA home for years to come.

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