Brad Stevens spent the summer reducing the Boston Celtics’ payroll. As constructed last season, the franchise was heading toward nearly $500 million in salaries and luxury taxes for the 2025-26 season. With Jayson Tatum expected to miss most, if not all, of the season, Stevens opted to part ways with Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet and Al Horford. Those moves positioned the Celtics as a retooling team. They’re viewed as potential sellers as we get closer to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. One team that could be looking for impactful reinforcements is the Dallas Mavericks, who, despite adding Cooper Flagg with the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft, has started the season with a 2-6 record. In a Nov. 6 article for Bleacher Report, Dan Favale listed Celtics’ champion and reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard, as a potential solution for Dallas’ problems. “Billed as a microwave sniper, Pritchard is actually so much more,” Favale reasoned. “He has the handle and footwork to get inside the paint and generate opportunities for his teammates…Prying him off the Boston Celtics will take Max Christie and/or first-round equity, not to mention Beantown leaning further into its gap-year reset. Roping in a third team to help shave more money off the Cs’ luxury-tax bill would go a long way as well.” The Celtics are unlikely to part with Pritchard, especially for the package Favale is proposing. His value to Boston is unquestionable. Therefore, unless he is packaged for a superstar, Brad Stevens should resist the temptation to cash in on one of the Celtics’ most consistent performers. Story continues below advertisement Pritchard’s offensive approach is currently evolving. He’s struggled from the perimeter in Mazzulla’s new-look offense. As such, he’s begun to attack the paint and the mid-range more. That type of three-level scoring, when coupled with his playmaking, is too valuable to give up, especially when the player is a proven commodity in the NBA and as a leader of a second unit. In nine games this season, Pritchard is averaging 15.3 points, 4 rebounds and 5.2 assists, shooting 43.4% from the field and 22.4% from deep. However, sooner or later, that shooting slump will come to an end, and when it does, his points-per-game numbers should receive a significant boost. Therefore, it makes no sense for the Celtics to part with Pritchard, especially as they will need to construct a contender once Tatum returns to the rotation. Story continues below advertisement