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Boston Celtics: 2 moves that could give Payton Pritchard a chance to grow

By Sam LaFrance

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 21: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the first half against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 21, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 21: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the first half against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 21, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have been on quite the run to kick off the 2022-23 NBA season. A 7-3 start sees the Cs in third place in the Eastern Conference, behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Strong contributions from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Malcom Brogdon, and Marcus Smart have helped to fuel the league’s number one offense. Boston’s offensive rating of 118 is good enough for the top spot.

One player that hasn’t had the opportunity to contribute to the high-powered offense is Payton Pritchard. Despite being an offensive-minded guard, Pritchard has appeared in just three games so far this season. With Brogdon, Smart, and Derrick White all having solid starts to the year, there really aren’t a ton of minutes available for the third-year guard.

Last season, he took the floor 71 times for the Celtics, even starting in two games. Over the course of the season he proved to be efficient, leading the team in three point shooting, making 41% of his attempts from deep. Fast PP even had a few convincing performances during Boston’s NBA Finals run. He scored 18 points off the bench against the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now there is no off the bench, he just sits.

Not that there’s really not any reason for Boston to play him. The guard rotation, again, has been solid to start the season. There really isn’t any reason to shake it up. However, is it really a good idea to just let him waste away on the bench?

Pritchard is certainly a talented player, at least enough to be getting minutes somewhere. Boston just opted to keep him around for another season, picking up his fourth-year option. The only real purpose he’s serving at this time is as injury insurance. In that case, it’s not too far-fetched to believe one of Smart, Brogdon, or White could miss time. The Boston Celtics would certainly benefit from keeping him should that situation arise.

Besides that, they’re just letting him waste away at the end of the bench. It may be time soon to make a move sending him elsewhere. In that situation, two potential landing spots come to mind.

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