Celtics Star Teases New Role Following Anfernee Simons Trade
It sounds like Payton Pritchard is heading back to the Boston Celtics bench, at least for the time being.
After winning Sixth Man of the Year honors last season, Pritchard was promoted to the Celtics’ starting five this year following last summer’s roster upheaval. With Jrue Holiday traded and Jayson Tatum sidelined, Pritchard slid into Boston’s starting backcourt alongside Derrick White.
Pritchard flourished in his new role and stayed there, starting his first 48 games of the season. After Anfernee Simons was traded to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, however, Pritchard immediately moved back to the bench.
He thrived in his old role, scoring 26 points off the bench for the Celtics in Tuesday’s road win over the Dallas Mavericks.
After the game, Pritchard said he expects to remain with the second unit for the foreseeable future.
“You see how our team is constructed, you need somebody to bench to handle the rock, and it’s good,” Pritchard told reporters. “D-White comes out, I come in and there’s always somebody that can bring it up, get us into the flow, stuff like that. So just makes the most sense for our team.”
Simons was Boston’s leading scorer off the bench, so Pritchard will look to replace the lost offense there. And as he said, he also expects to run the second unit’s offense.
That strategy will be tested on Wednesday night with Jaylen Brown listed as doubtful and Sam Hauser ruled out. The shorthanded Celtics could use him in the starting lineup, but it seems like Joe Mazzulla may have him come off the bench regardless.
Fortunately for Boston, Pritchard is comfortable in both roles now. While he’s spent more court time with the starting unit this year, he didn’t skip a beat in his return to the bench on Tuesday.