Boston Celtics Will Start Payton Pritchard Over Anfernee Simons if They Can’t Trade Simons

The Boston Celtics will start Payton Pritchard over Anfernee Simons if they can’t trade Simons, according to NBA insider Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.

The Celtics acquired Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday trade on July 7. Simons will make $27.7 million next season in the final year of his contract.

Boston is struggling to find a trade for Simons, per Afseth.

“The Boston Celtics appear poised to elevate Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup while using Anfernee Simons as a high-scoring option off the bench for the 2025–26 season if he remains on the roster, sources informed FastbreakJournal.com,” Afseth wrote.

Simons averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks for the Trail Blazers last season in 70 games. He shot 42.6% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 90.2% from the free-throw line. 

The 26-year-old Simons has career averages of 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.1 blocks in the NBA. He didn’t have an introductory press conference with the Celtics. 

Pritchard played in 80 games for the Celtics last season. He averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 47.2% overall, 40.7% from 3 and 84.5% from the foul line. The 27-year-old won the Sixth Man of the Year Award.

The Celtics drafted Pritchard with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Oregon native has career averages of 9.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.1 blocks.

Boston lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in six games. Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden and is expected to miss all of next season. 

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been extremely busy this offseason. He traded Holiday to the Trail Blazers for Simons and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang.

Stevens then traded Niang to the Utah Jazz for RJ Luis Jr. He also signed Chris Boucher, Luka Garza and Josh Minott.