OCTOBER 10: Pritchard’s contract extension is now official, the Celtics have announced in a press release.
“In addition to his great skill, Payton brings toughness, resiliency, and diligence that collectively elevate the room,” president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement. “We are excited that he chose to extend with the Celtics and look forward to what’s ahead.”
OCTOBER 8: The Celtics and guard Payton Pritchard are in agreement on a four-year rookie scale extension worth $30MM, his agents at CAA Basketball tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). The deal will be fully guaranteed, Wojnarowski adds.
The 26th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Pritchard had a promising rookie season, averaging 7.7 points per game with a .440/.411/.889 shooting line in 66 contests (19.2 MPG). He had his role cut back in his second and third seasons though — in 2022/23, he played just 13.4 minutes per night, averaging 5.6 PPG on .412/.364/.750 shooting.
Due to his declining role, Pritchard admitted back in February that he had hoped to be traded at the deadline to a team that intended to use him more. However, following the offseason trades of Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon, the 25-year-old is expected to have an expanded role in a new-look Boston backcourt behind Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Pritchard is apparently confident enough in his new role to sign a long-term deal with the Celtics well in advance of the October 23 deadline for rookie scale extensions. The former Oregon guard has only earned only approximately $6.4MM in his first three NBA seasons and will make $4.04MM in 2023/24, so it certainly makes sense that he’d want to lock in a contract that guarantees him $30MM, exponentially increasing his career earnings.
While Pritchard’s numbers to date have been modest, the Celtics are taking a calculated risk that he’ll increase his value in 2023/24 as he comes off a stint with the USA Select Team and receives a minutes bump. By deciding to extend him in advance of a possible breakout year, Boston now won’t have to worry about warding off potential suitors for Pritchard in restricted free agency next summer.
Pritchard’s new deal will further increase a Celtics payroll that appears likely to go well beyond the luxury tax line again in 2024/25, with big-money cap hits for Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, White, and Al Horford already on the books. The club also reportedly has interest in negotiating an extension with Holiday, who holds a $39.4MM player option for ’24/25.
As our extension tracker shows, Pritchard is the seventh player to agree to a rookie scale extension in 2023, joining LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Desmond Bane, Devin Vassell, and Isaiah Stewart. A total of 20 more players are still eligible to sign a rookie scale extension by Oct. 23.
Hmmmmmm
Solid move considering they will be over the 2nd tax apron when contract goes in to effect
You can sign your own players too. We could not sign a free agent So it is a good move a solid bench player who works hard to prove himself. He should have plenty of space to shoot with all other threats the celtics have.
A solid bench player who cries and wants to be traded when he doesn’t get minutes. How’s that going to play out come march?
Did Brad Stevens pull a Darvin Ham/ Christian Wood lie? “Oh, we have a big roll for you so sign on the dotted line.”
By “big roll” what are you thinking? Like a bulky roll?
Long but slim “role.” My error. I use voice to text too much.
“Cried?” Ridiculous.
Yes cried. Play me or trade me. That’s crying about something. Complaining whining choose your favorite word. Malcontent.
But I like the Celtics I think they’re very strong in the east. They took a risk changed their personality and I think it’s a smart move. I’m also just pointing out a player who hasn’t received the playing time he wants, signing a new contract with the hopes of more playing time, yet I don’t think he’ll receive it with the list of guards above him. I think he’ll cry about it again maybe the trade deadline, maybe next summer?
We’ll see how it plays out. Celtics should be fine but it’s no fun having an unhappy player in the locker room.
Gonna get eaten alive defensively in the Playoffs. Gonna be targeted by the opponent every possession he is on the floor.
Hope you watched tonight’s game. Payton played full court defense and was the only Celtic who gave Maxey trouble.
Huh…
Now they need to get d white and holiday extended
Issue is he is a 6’1 sharpshooter. Can’t afford to have him out there for long stretches against bigger guards. He’s just okay on defense. But you removed guys getting a lot of minutes on this roster, he’ll have an opportunity to get to that 20-25mpg level.
From BOS’s perspective, if he ends up in their regular rotation, then it’s a good signing. If not, it’s a bad one. But why now? He was already signed for next season, and would be controllable after that. So, they could have waited and maintained flexibility for the relatively small price of him being able to leverage a better salary.
I think because of future tax obligations it makes sense to do it now.
Trade bait that’s all. They will rid him with a expiring contract in February. Not a solid player has not proved nothing in 3 seasons except I ride the bench.This will put a lot of minutes on Boston starting backcourt maybe causing injuries.
Wrong already.
Proved nothing in 3 years? He was good his 1st year. His rookie year under Stevens. His 2nd year Udoka threw him at the end of the bench and never even attempted to touch him.
Though it was only a preseason game. He did really well when given the chance
Didn’t Vassell get more ??
Pritchard is still getting better. It’s smart to sign him now. Celtics need everyone happy. They are expecting a good run this yr lols.
Like $100 million more.
I remember the finals…dubs cooked this guy every time. I was so glad when they put him in
Totally. PP cannot guard NBA caliber guards.
Interesting. I remember watching Payton do a better job on Herro & Butler than our other guards.
I like Prichard but what really needs is a coach!
Yep. Boston is tied to how good of a coach Mazzula will be. That is not encouraging.
Brad went all in, so either this works or everyone will get fired. Funny that Brad has tied his NBA career to Joe Mazzula…lol.
So our Coach Joe Mazzulla is no good and our triple double guard Payton Pritchard is no good. And our President Brad Stevens in no judge of talent as well. And the GM’s around the league who praise Stevens’ moves must be no good too. Geez, sounds like Celts won’t even make the playoffs & Stevens will be gone.
He is too small :( but does everything else right
Can he actually guard anyone?
I know that everyone keeps thinking this guy will make it because he can shoot, but he cannot guard most PGs in the NBA.
Probably as someone said earlier. This is Brad getting ready to deal him next season.
Have you ever watched Payton defend?
And most NBA guards can’t guard or even stay in front of other guards. I remember Butler and other guards driving right around our former Celtics defensive player of the year, Marcus Smart, D-White and Malcolm.
Anyone can get traded in the NBA. And from our Celtics. Kelly O, Al, Smart, TimeLord. But who would want Payton and his $30 million contract if he proves out as bad as you say?
I get what you are saying about anyone can be traded. But Kelly O didn’t get traded. He signed outright with Miami. Al outright signed with Philly.
Did you watch him give Maxey fits while he was guarding Maxey. Only one that could do anything disruption against Maxey