Payton Pritchard Signs Extension After Celtics Reject Trade

Payton Pritchard has secured a two-year, $44.2 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics after the franchise decided against trading him during the 2022-23 NBA season. The guard, who wanted a larger role at the time, remained in Boston, helped the team win the 2024 NBA championship and earned the 2025 Sixth Man of the Year award.

According to The Boston Globe and The New York Times, the extension was officially signed during the weekend before the 2026-27 season. The agreement begins in the 2028-29 season and includes a mutual option for 2029-30, providing Pritchard with additional financial security while keeping him with the Celtics.

The 6-foot-1 guard is coming off the most productive season of his career, averaging 17 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. Following Jaylen Brown's departure, Pritchard is expected to take on a more prominent offensive role, although he could continue coming off the bench under coach Joe Mazzulla.

Pritchard reflected on his earlier trade request in an interview with The Athletic ahead of the new season, acknowledging that his confidence in his abilities remained strong despite limited playing time.

"At the time, I wasn't playing. I've talked about this before, but it was probably a little delusional confidence that I have, but it's from my work, the hours I put in. But I believed I could help this team win and at a high level.

Now, many people didn't believe it at the time or thought I was crazy, but I truly believed that. Obviously things opened up for me and it worked out and I took advantage of it, and hopefully I continue to take advantage of it," Pritchard said.

Boston's decision to retain Pritchard came despite reported trade discussions with the San Antonio Spurs before the 2023 deadline. According to The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn, the Celtics proposed sending Pritchard and Danilo Gallinari to San Antonio in exchange for center Jakob Poeltl.

The Spurs ultimately traded Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors for Khem Birch and three draft picks. San Antonio later built around Victor Wembanyama, while Boston's decision to keep Pritchard became part of the team's championship run.

After the 2023 deadline passed, Pritchard acknowledged that he had hoped to be moved but recognized the opportunity to continue developing with a leading team.

"I definitely was expecting and hoping [for a trade]. But you know, I [have to] look at the good things. We're the best team in the NBA right now, and we have a great team with really great players, so for me it's an opportunity to learn and to keep growing," Pritchard told Washburn.

The guard has since credited his long-term development to persistence through difficult stretches in high school, college and the NBA. His expanded responsibilities with Boston followed the increased playing time he received after the trade deadline, allowing him to demonstrate his ability to handle the ball, direct the offense and contribute consistently.

Pritchard also explained why his position in the starting lineup matters less to him than his overall contribution. He has accepted a reserve role when the coaching staff considers it best for the team, including a move to the second unit in February of the previous season after starting every game to that point.

"How you impact the game is what really matters to me. It's probably an ego thing, but I don't really care to hear my name called at the beginning of the game. The first five minutes of the game really has no effect on the game, and if that's what Joe thinks benefits the team the most is me coming off the bench and playing those minutes, then I'm going to try to do it and be the best in those minutes," Pritchard said.

Mazzulla has praised the guard's resilience and willingness to adapt to changing responsibilities. The coach said Pritchard has consistently focused on finding ways to help the team win, regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench.

"He just maintained a level of toughness, a level of resilience, but I think a level of open-mindedness to, 'I'm just going to do whatever needs to be done to get on the floor and impact winning,'" Mazzulla said. "It's looked different at every stage of his career."

Pritchard's extension also reflects his decision to prioritize guaranteed financial security over waiting for a potentially larger future agreement. The New York Times reported that he considered the annual value of $22 million substantial compared with the approximately $8 million he had been earning.

"I feel like $22 million a year is quite a lot of money, especially with (what) I was going from making about ($8 million)," Pritchard said. "So I thought it was — I don't know, sometimes I like to just take that, and then you can always work for the next one. So stay hungry and maybe go get after the next one, be a better player — three years down the road, maybe I'm a better player, and then hopefully I can get rewarded like that again."

The contract decision followed a period in which Pritchard's role, production and standing within the Celtics organization grew substantially. His new agreement keeps him in Boston beyond the remainder of his current contract, with the additional mutual option extending the potential arrangement through the 2029-30 season.