The Boston Celtics are preparing for a significant backcourt adjustment heading into the 2025–26 NBA season, with Payton Pritchard expected to step into the starting lineup and Anfernee Simons slated for a high-scoring sixth-man role, provided Simons remains with the team.
According to Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.com, the organization believes Pritchard’s steady development, system familiarity, and ability to handle greater responsibilities make him the preferred choice to open games at point guard alongside Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
This decision comes in the wake of sweeping roster changes and a tough injury blow. Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury will sideline him for the entire season, forcing Boston to rethink its offensive identity.
The Celtics also parted ways with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, trading both as part of a financial reshuffle to get under the NBA’s second apron.
Holiday’s departure to Portland in exchange for Simons initially had many expecting the 26-year-old guard to join the starting five, but Joe Mazzulla’s plan instead leans on Pritchard’s proven chemistry with the core and his growth as both a scorer and playmaker.
Pritchard is coming off a breakout campaign in which he won Sixth Man of the Year honors, averaging 14.3 points on 47 percent shooting and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc, with 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and nearly a steal per game.
His three starts last season saw those numbers spike to 21.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds, proving his ability to thrive in an expanded role. Over his career’s 17 starts, he’s averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds, underscoring the potential impact he could have as a full-time starter.
For Simons, the bench role wouldn’t be unfamiliar. He spent his first three-and-a-half seasons in Portland primarily as a reserve before emerging as a starter. Boston’s vision for him in this scenario is to anchor the second unit offensively, similar to how Jordan Clarkson or Malik Monk have thrived in recent years, high-usage scorers capable of shifting game momentum.
However, the team is reportedly open to moving him before the season if the right offer surfaces, meaning his role could still change.
While the Pritchard-White-Brown trio could deliver perimeter scoring punch, Boston’s biggest question mark is its frontcourt. With Porzingis gone and Al Horford contemplating retirement or a move to Golden State, the Celtics will lean on Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Chris Boucher in the paint, a rotation that will be tested early.
That makes Pritchard’s shot creation and tempo control all the more valuable, as Boston may need to win more games through perimeter efficiency and guard-driven offense.
Pritchard’s elevation also signals a shift in the Celtics’ long-term planning. The franchise is betting on internal development and cohesion rather than reshuffling the deck after Tatum’s injury.
It’s a move that could pay dividends if Pritchard builds on his Sixth Man success and Simons embraces a game-changing bench role. In a season of uncertainty, Boston’s backcourt strategy could define whether they remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.
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