BOSTON — Teammates lauded Payton Pritchard’s professionalism and preparedness whereas acknowledging the troublesome spot the staff positioned him in coming into this season. The NBA Finals contributor and seventh-longest tenured Celtic fell out of the rotation after the Malcolm Brogdon commerce.
Pritchard hoped for a constant function in his June exit interview and acquired the other. He didn’t play in seven of Boston’s first 10 video games. Then, he averaged 16.3 minutes for 5 video games whereas taking pictures 52.9%. These swings continued all through the primary half of the schedule, and regardless of dealing with them admirably, Pritchard revealed in a Level Ahead Podcast look with Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala that he shared his need for a bigger function with the Celtics.
“After I’m completed right here, after this yr, I’d wish to be a part of an even bigger function somewhat bit,” Pritchard mentioned when requested to foretell his subsequent 5-10 years. “I positively do, it’s clearly what I labored for. I believe that’s what Brad and them know too, we’ve had that dialogue, however an even bigger function. I wish to be a part of a successful tradition however I wish to additionally assist that, be a extremely huge piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the very best participant on the staff however I don’t know what my future holds except I can take that subsequent step.”
The request added a brand new layer to the already-difficult resolution for Boston’s entrance workplace coming into the deadline. Pritchard proved an essential piece of the Celtics’ depth starting the season by accidents to Marcus Good, Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon. When all three performed, Pritchard not often did, and his standout performances in opposition to Brooklyn and Toronto earlier this month reportedly generated curiosity within the guard from rival groups.
Pritchard is signed for another season at $4.0-million and Jayson Tatum praised the guard’s efforts and significance to the staff final week in Orlando. As Pritchard mentioned the commerce deadline and his season with CLNS Media/CelticsBlog earlier than Saturday’s recreation, Al Horford entered the locker room and overheard the query about Pritchard’s future.
“We ain’t fearful about that,” Horford mentioned. “We ain’t fearful about that. Don’t ask that.”
Pritchard revealed he’s letting his agent Greg Lawrence deal with his future within the dialog. Pritchard sees any potential transfer as exterior of his management, and he’ll let no matter occurs occur and believes he’ll be, fantastic regardless.
The Celtics don’t enter the deadline with vital wants, lowering the probability Pritchard could be included in a commerce. Groups might want him, however whether or not they’d sway Boston with a proposal is one other story. It’s additionally unclear if the Celtics might purchase a greater participant in return by dealing Pritchard as a centerpiece, since they’re restricted to providing draft picks in 2025 and past after dealing their 2023 first-rounder for Brogdon.
Boston will take into account every part with regards to Pritchard because the entrance workplace turns its full consideration towards commerce deadline this week. They like him, what he’s added to the staff and he’ll seemingly stay within the rotation by the deadline whereas Good takes his time coming back from an ankle sprain.
The Celtics aren’t targeted on sustaining common season success although. The query they’ll have to ask is whether or not Pritchard may help them of their pursuit of a championship, or whether or not they plan to take a seat him. He credited teammate and long-time pal Blake Griffin for serving to him deal with that uncertainty.
Griffin hosted Pritchard at a Clippers-Blazers recreation as an Oklahoma recruit, and joked earlier this season he should’ve not completed job, since Pritchard de-committed shortly after. He’s remained within the guard’s ear all through this season on the bench and within the locker room, the place their lockers are positioned subsequent to one another — for now.
“(Griffin instructed me) simply at all times keep engaged and prepared,” Pritchard instructed CLNS Media/CelticsBlog. “Typically you’re out and in of the lineup, and you’re feeling like you may be different locations enjoying or no matter. As a competitor, you wish to at all times play, however having any person to at all times be in your ear, ‘preserve working, preserve grinding day by day and your time will come,’ helps loads, as a result of loads of guys don’t have that after which they’ll be like, you miss just a few days and also you go downhill mentally and it spirals.”
“For my work facet of issues, it by no means modifications. I work arduous on a regular basis, I stick with my routine, however clearly in the event you don’t play, you scrimmage on off days, play ones, try this type of stuff, however for me, my routine, I strive to not change irrespective of if I’m enjoying or not enjoying, I’m persevering with to work on my recreation at all times.”
