Payton Pritchard has been working to improve his…

Payton Pritchard has been working to improve his off-ball offense

Last season, Payton Pritchard lost his role within the Boston Celtics rotation following the addition of Malcolm Brogdon. Pritchard was coming off the bench in the NBA Finals a few months earlier. Despite some clear frustrations with a lack of playing time, Pritchard remained professional and now projects to have a significant role in the upcoming season.

Boston has been active in the trade market this summer. Marcus Smart and Brogdon left the franchise, and Jrue Holiday was recently added in a surprise trade. With two guards leaving and only one coming back, Pritchard should expect an uptick in usage.

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Smart’s trade happened toward the start of the summer. So, Pritchard has been working on his game, looking for ways to impact the defense without the ball in his hands.

Did these trades set the stage for an epic Eastern Conference postseason showdown? https://t.co/CzdDXHqsGX

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 2, 2023

When speaking to the media on October 2, the fourth-year guard noted how he is working on his off-ball movement and has been studying players such as Steph Curry throughout the offseason.

“To elevate my game is expanding it off the ball,” Pritchard said. “And like in those areas, and I’m not comparing myself to nobody, but you see how Steph (Curry) and those guys, how they get shots and create shots with not even having the ball in their hands. So for me, I’m able to catch and shoot. So that’s a big area I’ve improved on…I’m trying to take that growth mindset as far as like, there’s always things I can get better at, and that’s just keep elevating my game to another level each year.”

According to a report by The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, the Celtics are working on a contract extension to keep Pritchard with the organization beyond the remainder of his rookie-scale deal.

“They all add up, and all the stories … team meeting and things they did off the court as a group,” said Tatum. https://t.co/QxWHKTDIHb

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 2, 2023

Boston appears to have faith in what Pritchard brings to the table and how he can provide a different skillset off the bench.

After a year of biding his time, Pritchard finally has the chance to continue developing his game and advancing his career. Doing so on this roster, with championship expectations, should tell you all you need to know regarding the sharpshooting guards standing with the coaching staff and front office.