Celtics, Pritchard agree to fully guaranteed 4-year, $30M extension

The Boston Celtics agreed to a four-year, $30-million extension with guard Payton Pritchard, his agents told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Pritchard’s new term will be fully guaranteed.

The 25-year-old was on course to enter restricted free agency next summer. Selected 26th overall in the 2020 draft, the Oregon product is heading into the final year of his four-year, $10.5-million rookie deal.

Pritchard averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists last season. He played in just 48 games due partly to injuries, including a heel issue that caused him to miss 13 of 14 games in March.

With Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon now with the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively, the Celtics are likely banking on Pritchard taking up a bigger role on the team’s second unit. Pritchard could be tasked with being the leading ball-handler off the bench in 2023-24 if head coach Joe Mazzulla elects to retain Derrick White in the starting lineup.

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