Payton Pritchard was a little surprised and disappointed to still be with the Celtics when the trade deadline passed Thursday afternoon, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The third-year guard has proven he can contribute when he gets the opportunity, but he’s only averaging 12.6 minutes per game this season, the lowest figure of his career.
“I definitely was expecting and hoping (for a trade),” Pritchard said. “But you know, I (have to) look at the good things. We’re the best team in the NBA right now and we have a great team with really great players, so for me it’s an opportunity to learn and to keep growing.”
The Celtics were open to trading Pritchard and reportedly explored the market to see what they could get in return for him and Danilo Gallinari. One report said Pritchard was part of Boston’s offer to the Spurs for Jakob Poeltl, but San Antonio opted to send Poeltl to the Raptors.
Pritchard, a four-year college player, is already 25 and is hoping to find a situation soon that offers consistent playing time. The Celtics already picked up his option for next season, so there’s little he can do about his situation until the summer of 2024.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Danny Green and Terrence Ross are probably the most realistic targets for the Celtics in the buyout market, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He points out that the $3.2MM disabled player exception that Boston received for Gallinari puts the team in position to outbid most competitors.
- James Harden played his first game in Brooklyn tonight since being traded to the Sixers at last year’s deadline. Harden offered his thoughts about what went wrong for the Nets‘ Big Three and said he was glad to get out when he did, tweets Nick Friedell of ESPN. “I don’t look like the crazy one,” Harden said. “I don’t look like the guy or the quitter or whatever the media want to call me. I knew what was going on and I just decided to … hey, I’m not built for this. I don’t want to deal with that. I want to play basketball and have fun.”
- The Raptors had to renounce their rights to six former players to complete the Poeltl trade, tweets Spotrac contributor Keith Smith. They are Isaac Bonga, Jeremy Lin, Jodie Meeks, Lucas Nogueira, Jason Thompson, and longtime restricted free agent Nando De Colo.
I love PP but how selfish is that? You’re going to get a legit shot at a ring but you’re disappointed you’re not traded? Does he really think being being the 9th man on OKC or San Antonio is a better audition and learning experience than playing in Boston?
Riding the pine during the season and then he won’t be in the rotation at all during the playoffs?
He wants to play, get a multiyear deal.
Does kinda come across like he sayin, “Damn winning… I wanna play and get my money!”
Pritchard doesn’t need a “learning experience”. He’s a vet on a rookie-scale deal. Playing time is the difference between him making 5M and 50M on his next contract.
9th man on San Antonio? Lol you’re delusional if you think Pritchard wouldn’t start for a Spurs team that has been running Tre Jones (29 MPG) as the starter w/o a backup. With 19-year old Malaki Branham also the starting SG of late.
He’s a basketball player. He wants to play. Not every guy is happy sitting on the bench.
Selfish? You could just as easily say it’s selfish for owners and the FO to keep a player who doesn’t want to be there and had no control over where he was drafted just because it makes it more likely they’ll win which will improve the FO standing.
How’s it selfish it’s his career and his decision.
If he wanted to win a ring and didn’t care for minutes then I’m sure he’d be happy to stu but he obviously wants to play more minutes, show people what he can do and hopefully earn some real money.
It’s more selfish to be the keyboard warrior telling a player what he should and shouldn’t be doing
True. He needs to be coached on the “no comment” response. The past few weeks, he’s come across as a whiner and a selfish baby. Team first, Payton.
With Bones Hyland moving for 2 second round picks, Boston should’ve reached out and offered Pritchard and a second…
Would’ve been deal of the century.
I think Bones has all star potential and in the right place with the right role and teammates could take a Tyrese Maxey type step up to the next level. I’m not sure how he wohsove fitted in with Brogdan and White but I think slotting him in with Marcus Smart he could’ve done a lot of learning and they would’ve been a great fit together. Smart seems like abit more of a tough love kinda guy, on the court he a terrific defender and has underrated passing ability. Bones could’ve picked up alot from him and on the court I think could’ve been a great fit
Danny Green is done, as someone that watches the Celtics I really hope they have no interest in him. Much rather see PP out there than Green.
I remember Bonga, de Colo and Nogueira
Raptors still had Bebe Nogueira’s rights?? Jodie Meeks??? Lol wow
Watching Celts play Memphis right now and Payton Pritchard is playing and playing well with 4 three-point makes. He’s in the right spot this season. These sports interviewers try to make something out of nothing. That’s what happened here w Pritchard. Go Payton! Go Celtics!