Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, Pelicans forward Trey Murphy, Knicks guard Quentin Grimes, and Celtics guard Payton Pritchard are among the young players joining the USA Select Team in a couple weeks to practice and scrimmage against the main Team USA roster ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojanrowski reported that Pritchard, Murphy and Reid would attend the American team’s training camp (Twitter links), while Shams Charania of The Athletic reported (via Twitter) Grimes would be present.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren of the Thunder, Rockets guard Jalen Green, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, and Kings forward Keegan Murray will also be part of the Select Team, as The Athletic reported on Thursday.
Reid, who signed a three-year, $42MM extension at the end of June to remain with Minnesota, averaged career bests of 11.5 PPG and 4.9 RPG last season. Murphy had a breakout second season in 2022/23, averaging 14.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 1.1 SPG on a stellar .484/.406/.905 shooting line.
Grimes started the majority of ’22/23 for New York, averaging 11.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG and 2.1 APG on .468/.386/.796 shooting while playing solid defense. Pritchard had the most modest role of the four new players reportedly joining the Select Team, averaging 5.6 PPG on .412/.364/.750 shooting in 13.4 MPG last season.
It’s possible a player or two on the Select Team could be used as an injury replacement for someone on Team USA’s 12-man roster. For example, Keldon Johnson, who was a Select Team member ahead of the Tokyo Olympics a couple years ago, replaced Bradley Beal when the star guard contracted COVID-19.
The Americans will start training camp for the World Cup on August 3 in Las Vegas, with their first game scheduled later that month in the Philippines.
If the Celtics refuse to use Payton Pritchard correctly, continue to stunt his growth, and refuse to give him a consistent role in their rotation, then they should just go ahead amd trade him somewhere else…
Pritchard doesn’t really seem like the type to complain publicly to the media, but if I were him, I’d have to say something if they refuse to use him again this season.
Pritchard has proven time after time that he’s more than capable of AT LEAST running their second unit, and he’s steadily improved his offensive game becoming more than just a catch and shoot type of guy, finding and creating ways for himself and others to score in the paint.
Boston really needs to find out exactly what they have in Pritchard, and Pritchard has more than deserved an opportunity to get some quality minutes for the Celtics this upcoming season. Really, it’s a win, win for both parties, and I think the Celtics just might realize what a very solid, all-around rotation player Pritchard can be for their franchise moving forward.
With the Smart trade I’d guess Pritchard would be the 4th guard behind White, Brown and Brogdon. He’ll get his minutes. That’s what his role should be, a 4th guard on a good team and 3rd guard on a bad to mediocre team.
I can’t argue with any of that. Idk, I’ve just thought he’s shown some promise in glimpses of really being able to do alot more than he’s been given the opportunity to do.
That is especially when Tatum gets a breather, I think they should roll out Pritchard, Brogdon, Brown, Houser, and then either R.Williams/Nnaji…
I think that could definitely be an interesting impact lineup with that mixture of starters/reserves…
Browns not a guard
In a lineup with White, Brown, Tatum, Porziņģis and Williams what else would Brown be other than a guard?
Agree. Brown fits well as a shooting guard.
I like Pritchard, but dudes defense is horrendous.
And that’s what keeps him off the floor… It’s not his shooting and passing ability, it’s that he’s a sieve on defense. It’s not for a lack of trying, he’s just relatively slow and small.
Well the 1.7 to .7 turnover to assist ratio for Pritchard’s career certainly doesn’t help anyone’s case when they state that he’s gotten better as a playmaker and capable of running the 2nd unit.
True, but Payton’s never had a real chance to run a team so the sample is small Hope he does get his chance this year and if he does I hope and expect his 1.7 assist to turnover .7 ratio, will improve.
Payton is short, true, but not slow at all. He moves his feet quickly and stays in front of guards like Butler & Herro better than Marcus did and better than our other guards do. He picks up opponents early and irritates them, sort of like Avery Bradley used to do. And if we play him about 20 minutes a game, he won’t get gassed. And he has a high BB IQ I believe, is in the right spot on the floor on D.
Totally wrong.
I agree 100%! Payton is 25 years old now, played all 4 years in college at Oregon and was elected the best point guard in college, winning the Bob Cousy award! We all know who Cousy played for. I remember in the few minutes PP got to play for the Celtics over the last two years him being in the right spot & making a game winning layup. Another time stealing a ball on defense and offensive rebounding. Of course he had that Triple Double in the last game of last season with huge numbers, not just squeezing by. I expect the Celtics to give him his chance early as Malcolm Brogdon will be eased in slowly after not having surgery on his shooting elbow.
Obviously if Payton is not given his chance we should trade him. I believe in Brad Stevens and sense we will move forward for both the team and Payton early. Go Celtics!
Watch Reid get hurt and screw the Timberwolves season up………only way it can be for the Wolves fans.
Franchise is curse with horrible leadership and injuries.