Relegated to the bottom of the Celtics’ rotation since the arrival of Malcolm Brogdon this summer, Payton Pritchard is however not on the 2022 NBA runner-up transfer list, according to the Boston globe. The leaders’ great performances in the playoffs last season made him an important part of the C bench.
To win a title, every element of the group is important. The Celtics have understood this and it is in this spirit that they should not sell Payton Pritchard, their 24-year-old point guard. Drafted 26th in the 2020 Draft, post 1 immediately proved to be a player capable of holding the lead without trembling but above all capable of numerically bringing into a team already full of many talents in defense.
However, rumors of a possible transfer have been rife, with the player seeing his playing time drop from 14 minutes to 9.9 this season. However, the absences of Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Smart this season have allowed Payton Pritchard to sporadically find minutes and prove once again that in the event of a glitch he was able to secure himself onto the floor without batting an eye. Pritchard has collected 4 points, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game this season. He has a contract until June 2024.
Zooming out a bit, it’s the Celtics’ entire trade deadline that should be very quiet. Joe Mazzulla’s team is equipped in all areas of play and would not gain much by transferring one of its elements when the season is very good. As a reminder, Boston currently tops the Eastern Conference with 26 wins only 11 losses. The Nets, their closest pursuers, are 1.5 games behind.
Sources: Boston Globe, ESPN
