Boston Celtics eye $67 million extension for guard Payton Pritchard

The Boston Celtics are preparing to lock up guard Payton Pritchard with a multi‑year contract after the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia left a scoring gap. Pritchard, who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award and started 50 of 79 games last season, is eligible for an extension on October 1. The proposed deal could be a three‑year, $67 million guarantee, roughly 140 % of the projected average NBA salary under the CBA. Currently he is on a low‑value deal worth $7.5 million this season and $8.5 million next. Celtics insiders, including ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, expect the team to move quickly to retain him before his market value rises further. Some analysts suggest Pritchard could wait for free agency in 2028, when his hometown Seattle may have an expansion team, but the security of a guaranteed contract is a strong incentive.