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Brad Stevens has consistently acted swiftly to lock up Boston's core players in recent years, and this summer, Payton Pritchard became the latest recipient of that proactive approach. Eligible for an extension, Pritchard and the franchise reached an agreement on Monday, October 13, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. The two-year deal is worth $44.2 million, ensuring the guard remains with the Celtics for the foreseeable future.
Pritchard's current contract, a four-year, $30 million pact, does not include a player option. Consequently, his new extension will not commence until the 2028-29 season, when his salary will rise from $8.3 million to $21.2 million. The second year of the extension carries a mutual option valued at $22.9 million, meaning either Boston or Pritchard can opt in. However, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, only Pritchard holds the ability to opt out.
Even with an average annual value of $22.2 million, the extension represents fair market value. For years, Pritchard has been one of the NBA's most underpaid contributors, and his accolades—a Sixth Man of the Year award and an NBA championship—underscore his value. He could potentially add more honors before the extension even takes effect.
In light of the agreement, Masslive's Brian Robb and Souichi Terada went live on YouTube to share their immediate reactions. They discussed the contract details and the fact that Boston now has Pritchard secured through the end of his age-32 season. The duo also examined his projected role and growing importance to the franchise following Jaylen Brown's trade.
For the full discussion, viewers can access the embedded video below. The "Celtics Chronicle" podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Did the Boston Celtics get fair value on Pritchard's extension?
Originally reported by yahoo.