3 Boston Celtics role players who will pleasantly surprise this season

With all of the pomp and pageantry of the Boston Celtics offseason — sending away fan-favorite Marcus Smart to land Kristaps Porzingis a week before the opening of free agency and making a last-second pre-training camp trade splash of bringing on Jrue Holiday at the expense of other fan-favorite Robert Williams III and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon — there were underrated moves made by the front office as well.

Whether it was rewarding long-time role players who have acquiesced to any role asked of them with extra opportunities granted to incoming additions signed for cheap, the Celtics made underrated and understated moves during a summer (and fall) of blockbusters.

With the 2023-24 season set to begin, the Houdini believes some fans will find the game-ball recipient on several nights during the regular season someone they weren’t expecting a big night from.

Here are 3 Boston Celtics role players who will pleasantly surprise this season

Payton Pritchard

Brad Stevens won’t let the last breakout draft pick under his watch coaching go during his current Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations stint, Payton Pritchard. Holding onto him in the blockbuster Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, who play in his home state of Oregon, indicates that there could be a long-term future for the former Ducks star in Boston.

With a potential extension ahead of the rookie-scale extension deadline coming his way, Pritchard may finally be out of trade rumors for a while; all while developing behind one of the all-time great NBA teammates, Holiday.