{"id":56246,"date":"2023-10-09T11:38:50","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T15:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=56246"},"modified":"2023-10-09T11:47:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T15:47:49","slug":"boston-celtics-rumors-payton-pritchard-role-backup-center-favorite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/10\/09\/boston-celtics-rumors-payton-pritchard-role-backup-center-favorite\/","title":{"rendered":"Boston Celtics Rumors: Payton Pritchard New Role, and Backup Center Favorite"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Celtics continue to make waves. As it is widely known, the Celtics were involved in two of the most high-profile NBA trades this offseason.\u00a0 Yesterday, the C&#8217;s and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pritcpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Payton Pritchard<\/strong><\/a>&#8216;s agreed on a contract extension. There was also news that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/scrubja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jay Scrubb<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>suffered a major injury, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kornelu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Luke Kornet<\/strong><\/a> being the leading candidate to serve as the backup center.<\/p>\n<h2>NBA Rumors and News: Payton Pritchard, Kawhi Leonard, Jay Scrubb, Hawks &amp; Suns<\/h2>\n<h3>Celtics and Payton Pritchard Agree To Contract Extension<\/h3>\n<p>After the Celtics were eliminated last year, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/10\/09\/news-boston-celtics-reportedly-extending-payton-pritchard\/\" target=\"_self\">Pritchard<\/a> made it known that he wanted a bigger role this upcoming season. Not only will Pritchard get a bigger role, he will also get a bigger paycheck in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>According to ESPN&#8217;s Adrian Wojnarowski, Pritchard, who will make $4.04 million this year, and the Celtics agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract that is fully guaranteed. The extension will kick in for the 2024-25 campaign.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has agreed on a four-year, $30 million contract extension, agents Austin Brown, Max Saidman and Mitch Nathan of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CAA_Basketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@CAA_Basketball<\/a> tell ESPN. Deal is fully guaranteed. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sD9LgpmHZx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/sD9LgpmHZx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn\/status\/1711060478087336405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Pritchard had a solid rookie season after being selected by Boston with the No. 26 overall pick in 2020. But the 25-year-old saw his production decline over the past two years as the Celtics improved their backcourt depth. He averaged 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 14 minutes over 48 appearances in 2022-23.<\/p>\n<p>Pritchard is an excellent shooter who makes 40% of his shots from deep. He is also a good ball-handler that competes defensively.<\/p>\n<h4>What Role Will Pritchard Have This Season<\/h4>\n<p>With the trades of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smartma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Marcus Smart<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brogdma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Malcolm Brogdon<\/strong>,<\/a> Pritchard is slated to be the Celtics&#8217; third or fourth guard. In Boston&#8217;s first preseason game on Sunday against Philadelphia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/whitede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Derrick White<\/strong><\/a> started alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jaylen Brown<\/strong><\/a> in the backcourt. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holidjr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jrue Holiday<\/strong><\/a> came off the bench, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jayson Tatum,<\/strong><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/horfoal01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Al Horford,<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/porzikr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Kristaps Porzingis<\/strong><\/a> were the other starters.<\/p>\n<p>Holiday will likely start for the Celtics in the regular season. In that case, White or <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/09\/07\/boston-celtics-trade-throwback-3-al-horford-returns-to-boston\/\" target=\"_self\">Horford<\/a> will come off the bench, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/celtics\/2023\/10\/celtics-mailbag-grant-williams-tpe-starting-5-jrue-trade-fallout.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brian Rabb of Mass Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; He [Pritchard] is the team\u2019s offensive sixth man, <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4941837\/2023\/10\/08\/celtics-payton-pritchard-contract-extension\/?source=emp_shared_article\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Athletic&#8217;s Jared Weiss wrote.<\/a> &#8220;Pritchard will likely spend this year coming into the game in the first quarter and orchestrating plenty of the offense.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Pritchard was excellent in Boston&#8217;s 114-106 preseason-opening victory on Sunday. The 6-1 combo guard tossed in 26 points on 9 of 14 shooting, including 6 of 11 from the 3-point line. He also doled out four assists, grabbed two rebounds, and committed two turnovers.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of Holiday, USA Basketball is aggressively pursuing Holiday to return to Team USA and play in the 2024 Olympics, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/olympics\/story\/_\/id\/38605997\/sources-team-usa-pursuing-jrue-holiday-2024-games\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ESPN\u2019s Adrian Wojnarowski<\/a> reports. Holiday is said to be still mulling the offer.<\/p>\n<h3>Luke Kornet Has Inside Track As Backup Center<\/h3>\n<p>While Boston nabbed two star players in all the wheeling and dealing they did, the Celtics&#8217; frontcourt depth took a hit.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, it left the Celtics without a backup center if Horford does indeed start. If Horford comes off the bench, then Porzingis would start at center and Tatum at power forward. Horford coming off the bench would eliminate the necessity of having a backup center as he would serve as the first big off the bench.<\/p>\n<p>Saying that Weiss tweeted that coach Joe Mazzula told him that Kornet has the inside track on the backup center job.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joe Mazzulla on backup center: &quot;It starts with Luke. I thought Luke really did a great job last year. I think he\u2019s an underrated player &amp; I don\u2019t think people realize how effective he is. He\u2019s a guy that\u2019s always in the right spot defensively (and) makes the right play.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JaredWeissNBA\/status\/1710709160558391344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Kornet will make $2.41 million this year. While his contract is nonguaranteed through Jan. 10, Kornet already received $400,000 of the deal, and another nearly $1.1 million will be guaranteed if he makes the opening night roster &#8212; which appears to be a lock at this point.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Kornet averaged 3.8 points on 66.5% shooting from the field and 2.9 rebounds in a career-high 69 appearances while seeing 12 minutes a game. Kornet is not a shot-blocker, but he is a plus-defender.<\/p>\n<p>The 28-year-old turned in a decent performance in the Celtics&#8217; preseason opener. The 7-2 center tallied four points on 1 of 2 shooting, three rebounds, and one assist in 13 minutes of action.<\/p>\n<h3>Jay Scrubb Suffers Injury<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/10\/08\/boston-celtics-summer-league-showout-tears-acl-jay-scrubb\/\" target=\"_self\">Scrubb<\/a> likely saw his\u00a0 2023-24 season come to an end on Saturday as he suffered a torn ACL in practice.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NEBHInjuryReport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NEBHInjuryReport<\/a> Jay Scrubb suffered a torn right ACL during practice yesterday. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Boston Celtics (@celtics) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/celtics\/status\/1711133347936706636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Scrubb inked a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/07\/16\/boston-celtics-sign-jay-scrubb-to-two-way-contract\/\" target=\"_self\">two-way deal<\/a> with Boston after a strong Summer League performance. The 2020 second-round draft pick tallied 16.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in four games in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<p>Scrubb was one of three players on a two-way deal with the Celtics. Now, president of basketball of operations Brad Stevens has a decision to make. The C&#8217;s could keep the 23-year-old guard or waive him, which is the most likely outcome. Waiving Scrubb would allow Boston to add another player to a two-way contract.<\/p>\n<p>Even if the Celtics decide to waive Scrubb, they still could re-sign him when he is cleared to return to basketball activities.<\/p>\n<p>Scrubb is known for his scoring prowess. Scrubb, who has appeared in 22 NBA games, averaged 22.2 points for the G-League&#8217;s Lakeland Magic last year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Celtics continue to make waves. As it is widely known, the Celtics were involved in two of the most high-profile NBA trades this offseason.\u00a0 Yesterday, the C&#8217;s and Payton Pritchard&#8216;s agreed on a contract extension. There was also news that Jay Scrubb\u00a0suffered a major injury, and Luke Kornet being the leading candidate to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":56339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,5,2,3],"tags":[250,48953,450,798,239,1776,2614],"class_list":["post-56246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-featured","category-news","tag-al-horford","tag-jay-scrubb","tag-jaylen-brown","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-luke-kornet","tag-payton-pritchard"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56246"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56246\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}