Payton Pritchard could get more playing time next season after the Boston Celtics traded starting point guard Marcus Smart last week.
Pritchard reportedly had asked for a trade after seeing his minutes decreased dramatically during the regular season and further during the playoffs last season. The former West Linn High School and Oregon star wanted a trade to get more playing time. He may get the extra run without being traded.
Celtics general manager Brad Stevens acknowledged that Pritchard was the odd man out of the four-man backcourt of Smart, Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon last season.
“Last year, we had four really good players back there,” Stevens told reporters Friday. “We couldn’t get any time for Payton.”
Pritchard remains with the Celtics after the Smart trade involving the Celtics, Washington Wizards and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Celtics received Kristaps Pozingis from the Wizards, Smart was sent to Memphis, the Wizards received Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies and Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala from the Celtics.
The trade could move White into the starting role, with Pritchard getting a chance to step into the backup role, but he must “step up” his performance, according to a report.
The offseason has just started, the Celtics may not be finished making roster moves and Pritchard could still be traded. There was a report last week of Pritchard being included in a trade between the Celtics and the Indiana Pacers. Brogdon was on his way to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade that fell apart earlier this month due to injury issues surrounding Brogdon’s elbow.