Sources: Celtics Plan to Start Payton Pritchard After Trading Jrue Holiday
The Boston Celtics appear poised to elevate Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup while using Anfernee Simons as a high-scoring option off the bench for the 2025–26 season if he remains on the roster, sources informed FastbreakJournal.com.
The anticipated shift comes amid sweeping roster changes. Boston will be without Jayson Tatum for the entire season due to injury and has traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. In the wake of those moves, Pritchard is set to take on a more prominent role alongside Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Pritchard, who won his first Sixth Man of the Year award in 2024–25, averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 80 games. In his three starts last season, he posted an impressive 21.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game — numbers that have bolstered his case for a full-time starting role.
Payton Pritchard Has ‘Earned’ Starting Role
The Celtics believe Pritchard has earned the starting job through years of steady development. His familiarity with the system and readiness to handle expanded responsibilities have made him the preferred option to open games at point guard.
Simons, acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Holiday trade, averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in 70 games last season. He’s set to play on an expiring $27.7 million salary this season.
While his scoring ability is proven, sources told FastbreakJournal.com that Boston entered the offseason focused on shedding salary and has struggled to find a trade partner for Simons’ contract since acquiring him. Regardless, he remains a trade candidate to monitor as he plays out his contract.
Boston Celtics Have Focused on Cap-Sheet Maneuvering
Boston’s offseason has been focused on cost-cutting moves. The Celtics recently traded Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr., dropping their luxury tax bill from $73.1 million to $30.4 million. The team now sits $10.2 million below the second apron and $1.7 million above the first apron.
In a separate move, Boston signed power forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. The 32-year-old veteran spent the past seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, winning an NBA championship in 2019.
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