Payton Pritchard Contract Extension Doesn't Guarantee Long-Term Future in Boston

The Right Move?

Thinking about dealing Pritchard elsewhere in a year or two might be jumping the gun, but if Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck is looking at securing Banner 18 within a six-year window, we also should be considering how things are going to play out in the future, right?

Grousbeck had this to say at Jrue Holiday's introductory press conference last Wednesday:

"I look at the next six years as a real opportunity for us. And that's not to take anything away from this year, but we're gonna keep doing this until we uncover that banner, until we print something on that, or we're gonna die trying."

- Wyc Grousbeck

If that's the case, then perhaps Boston does have plans to trade Pritchard in the long run. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens has proven that he isn't afraid to wheel and deal to build a championship contender, sending out Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon this offseason to acquire the likes of Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

Luckily for the Celtics, they find themselves in an ideal situation. Pritchard either develops into an untouchable bench piece, or he ends up just not fitting in the system despite still being productive, thus boosting his trade value and allowing Boston to go out and get the talent it needs.

The worst case scenario, of course, would be Pritchard becoming a non-contributor for the Celtics, hurting both Boston and his chances of catching another team's eye.

Shipping out Pritchard is a great move if it's made at the right time. There's a lot of risk involved, though, as the Celtics might miss out on their best possible return should they wait too long to include him in a potential deal.

If we're looking at best-case scenarios, Pritchard develops into a bona fide sixth man. He ends up staying in Boston for the next four years, and possibly beyond, saving the Celtics the stress of testing the trade market.

With that being said, if there's anyone Boston fans should be rooting for this season, it's Pritchard. In one way or another, his success in 2023-24 is going to play a role in just how good the Celtics are for years to come.

Whatever is in store for Pirtchard and the Celtics in the long term, it's clear that things are great right now. And you can make it even sweeter by getting a guaranteed $200 for backing Boston. Just bet $5 on DraftKings after signing up through the exclusive link below and you'll automatically unlock an instant $200 bonus — you don't even need to wait to find out if your bet won or lost. That means you can bet $5 on the C's to win the title, then use that $200 bonus to start making more bets immediately. Sign up now to unlock your $200 before it expires!

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