5 Celtics who are untradeable, 2 they can afford to let go

Expendable: Payton Pritchard

Pritchard requested a trade before the 2023 deadline. He was not in the rotation and wanted playing time. The Celtics opened it up this summer as they improved their top-end talent. They are searching for a trusted seventh man, but Pritchard has failed to lock down that role.

The 6’1 guard has always had defensive concerns, but his offensive game has been incredibly inefficient so far. Pritchard averages 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 20.5 minutes per game, while shooting just 37.5 percent from the field and 31.6 percent on his 3-point tries.

He played a 10 to 15-minute per-game role for Boston in the 2022 playoffs when they reached the NBA Finals, but the franchise cannot trust him to repeat that feat unless his play improves on both ends of the floor.

The Boston Celtics need ball-handlers and playmakers, so they must replace him with another point guard if they decide to move on. He got a four-year $30 million extension during training camp, which makes it a bit more difficult to trade him. The Celtics will explore his market before Feb. 8 and could have a new backup point guard by the time the postseason arrives in April.