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Payton Pritchard Contract Extension Answers Major Question for Celtics

25-year-old guard was at center of trade rumors throughout offseason

By Nick Galle

With the departures of Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon this past summer, Payton Pritchard will likely see increased opportunities off the bench.
With the departures of Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon this past summer, Payton Pritchard will likely see increased opportunities off the bench. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics are signing Payton Pritchard to a four-year, $30 million extension, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday afternoon.

The deal is fully guaranteed, per the report.

Pritchard took a backseat to Malcolm Brogdon during the 2022-23 campaign, playing in just 48 games (three starts). He averaged 5.6 points per game and shot 36.4 percent from 3-point range after shooting over 41 percent from deep in each of his first two seasons.

This deal answers some major questions around the 26th overall pick from the 2020 NBA Draft.

What Payton Pritchard's Extension Means for Celtics

Just four months ago, The Athletic reported that Pritchard was hoping to be traded this offseason, but now it's clear he's here to stay.

There were questions as to whether or not president of basketball operations Brad Stevens would go out and find another guard to bolster Boston's bench, but the team is putting its faith in Pritchard, and with good reason.

Pritchard has shown that when given ample opportunity, he shines, as he put together two strong seasons before taking a step back in his first year in a Joe Mazzulla-run offense. Of course, the acquisition of Brogdon — who went on to be named NBA Sixth Man of the Year — ahead of the 2022-23 season meant there were going to be less touches for Pritchard, but even when he did get minutes, he didn't look nearly as comfortable in Mazzulla's system.

What better way to bring back a player's confidence than by signing him to a four-year extension?

This deal could signal the return of the version of Pritchard that Celtics fans, and NBA fans across the country, got to see against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals two seasons ago.

The contract also makes it crystal clear that Pritchard is expected to bring that kind of offensive firepower to Boston's second unit.

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