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With the departure of Jaylen Brown, it seems like a no-brainer: Payton Pritchard will be a starter next season.
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But let’s not forget that prior to Jayson Tatum’s return last season, Pritchard ceded his starting role to Baylor Scheierman after starting 47 out of the first 48 games. At the time, it was a move made in an effort to replace Anfernee Simons’ scoring in the second unit after he was traded for Nikola Vučević.
Now, Brown is in Philadelphia, but his spot will presumably be filled by the player he was traded for, Paul George. So unless PG13 is that veteran punch off the bench, it would seem reasonable to assume that the six-year pro might be part of the opening lineup.
Or maybe, he returns to the same role that earned him Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
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Recently, CLNS Media and CelticsBlog’s Bobby Manning sat down with PP to discuss early workouts with teammates new and old and what he’s looking forward to next year.
Individually, Pritchard wants to reach the free throw line more often in 2026-27. As a team, they want to make better reads while maintaining their hard-playing identity.
“That’s the biggest thing, and we need everybody to take a step,” he said. “Regular season wins, you win by playing hard and then in the playoffs, you win by playing harder and smarter. That’s really the recipe.”
If more free throws is one of Pritchard’s goals, it might make sense for him to enter the first quarter with opposing teams in foul trouble. He hasn’t been much of a foul grifter to date, but with just two more years left on his team-friendly contract, a boost in his numbers could land a bigger payday, regardless if he starts or not.
Read the full article here