The Boston Celtics clearly view Payton Pritchard as a building block moving forward. They have given him the minutes he wanted and have vaulted to second in the Eastern Conference with Pritchard as the starting point guard.
His infamous trade request (subscription required) has long been forgotten. He was upset with his playing time, which makes his transformation even more surprising. Pritchard stunningly went from barely playing to a crucial piece in three years. Teams are kicking themselves for not landing the 6’1 guard in 2023 when they had the chance. Instead, the Celtics kept Pritchard and helped him blossom into a key contributor.
Boston is impressed with his improvements, and head coach Joe Mazzulla is giving him the third-most minutes each night. His IQ and shot-making have taken significant leaps in recent years. Pritchard is on a value contract and is not going anywhere.
Celtics have quietly made Payton Pritchard a building block
Boston sent several pieces of their championship roster packing in the 2025 offseason. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded. Al Horford and Luke Kornet left in free agency. The Celtics knew Jayson Tatum would miss significant time, so they decided to trim payroll. They had no qualms about moving pieces, but Pritchard stayed put.
The Celtics keep increasing Pritchard’s playing time. He won Sixth Man of the Year in 2025, but has become a starter this year. Zach Lowe is loving Boston’s new Big 3, which will become a four whenever Tatum returns.
The Cs have the second-best offensive rating in the NBA this season, despite playing without their go-to scorer. Jaylen Brown has taken over and is making a first-team All-NBA case. The Celtics wouldn’t be where they are without Pritchard. He is a pesky defender capable of making plays, spacing the floor, and getting buckets. Boston needs that with Tatum out.
Pritchard is under contract through 2028 and never makes more than $8.3 million in a season. That is an absolute steal for a starter. Pritchard is third on the Celtics in value over replacement player (VORP). They certainly wouldn’t be second in the Eastern Conference without the talented guard stepping up.
Boston has difficult decisions to make before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. They thought this would be a gap year without Tatum, but the East is wide open. Pritchard, Brown, and White have kept the Celtics near the top of the standings. Now is the time to pounce and add talent, especially with three building blocks locked in and a fourth on the mend.
The Boston Celtics could be the favorites to win the East by the time the playoffs roll around. If Tatum returns, they have the depth, leadership, and know-how to make a deep run. Payton Pritchard becoming a building block was massive in helping raise the current roster's ceiling.
Now, the Cs need to put everything together and become elite. There have been positive steps, but the final leap is the most difficult. Boston has been there before, so expect them to make it happen. The Celtics aren't letting Pritchard go, and this roster isn't going anywhere for years to come. Expect more greatness with Pritchard playing a larger role than ever before.