News: Boston Celtics Reportedly Extending Payton Pritchard

The Celtics drafted Pritchard out of Oregon with the 26th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Pritchard was slated to be a restricted free agent after the 2023-23 season as this was the final year of his rookie contract.

Last season, Pritchard averaged 5.6 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game in 48 games.

In the last game of the 2023-24 season, Pritchard recorded a triple-double against the Atlanta Hawks. This was the first triple-double of his career.

En route to a 120-114 win, Pritchard recorded 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Additionally, Pritchard shot 9-for-16 from the three-point line and 10-f0r-21 overall.

Pritchard also appeared in 10 postseason games for the Celtics last season. However, the guard played spotty minutes and was not regularly in rotation.

Over the course of his career, Pritchard averages 6.6 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, and 1.7 assists per game.

In June, the Oregon alum requested a trade from the team. However, with this extension, it is evident that Pritchard will likely be in the team’s long-term plans.

Earlier in the offseason, the Celtics traded Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon. These were two guards were ahead of Pritchard in the rotation, causing him to regularly be out of the rotation.

Despite the team recently acquiring Jrue Holiday, another guard, Pritchard will sill likely assume a bigger role this upcoming season.

News: Boston Celtics Reportedly Extending Former First-Rounder

What This Contract Means for Payton Pritchard and the Boston Celtics

In his three seasons in the league, Pritchard has shown he can be an offensive spark plug.

One of the few weaknesses of this Celtics team is depth and overall bench production. With Pritchard likely seeing a larger role as a rotational guard, this should help fill those voids on the team.

This contract extension shows that the Celtics want to keep Pritchard in the rotation in the long run. Additionally, Pritchard now has a salary that would make it easier to trade him if it ever comes down to that.

The Last Word on Pritchard and the Celtics

The Celtics have already gone through a lot of roster turnover these last few years. Extending Pritchard and having roster stability on the bench, at least for now, can be very important for the team.

Plus, letting Pritchard get regular playing time will allow him to continue develop and carve himself a consistent role with the Celtics.

As for the contract itself, it looks to be very team-friendly.

Pritchard’s $7.5 million yearly salary would be just the eight-highest salary on the Celtics for this upcoming season. Considering Pritchard is expected to be one of the team’s most important bench pieces for the near future, this contract will likely end up being a bargain.

The Celtics begin the 2023-24 season on October 25th against the New York Knicks.

It will be interesting to see how Pritchard plays in what will likely be the biggest season of his career so far.