Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) after Pritchard missed a three point attempt late in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden
Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
On the heels of trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics could bet on Payton Pritchard to help fill the void left in the wake of the All-NBA forward's departure. Pritchard's expected to ascend following Brown's shocking exit, which should lead to a significant pay raise.
With two years left on his four-year, $30 million contract, Pritchard is in line for a hefty contract extension, according to Boston Globe's Gary Washburn.
“If you look at the salaries, Payton is next in line, and I think he's one of the league's bigger bargains,” Washburn said. “He's making $7.7 [million] this year, $8.3 [million] in 27-28. He's due an extension that's going to be about $22 million a year. And I think it could be what he decides to produce this year, but I also think he has shown enough where you do give him that $22 million per year. That's still, in today's NBA, a very tradable contract.
“That's not a contract that I don't think the Celtics at all will regret. That rewards Payton for his hard work. For over playing his contract, we all know he's one of the league's biggest bargains. That's the Celtics kind of giving him a nice payday on the backside after this contract is up. And I think he deserves it.”
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The "Showtime" Lakers became the NBA's most feared fast-break machine of the 1980s under which coach, who stepped into the job early in the 1981-82 season and never looked back?
Paul Westhead
Mike Dunleavy
For Washburn, Payton Pritchard has shown growth yearly for the Celtics, which will eventually be rewarded with a well-deserved contract extension.
“He's worked hard. He's improved. He's got the hardware with a championship and a Sixth Man of the Year award,” Washburn adds. “He deserves it. I think this should be a no-brainer.”
After winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2025, Pritchard averaged career-bests in points (17.0), assists (5.7), and rebounds (3.9) per game in 2026-27.