The Celtics‘ biggest transactions this offseason – including trades that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland and Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta – have been more about reducing the team’s payroll as opposed to upgrading the roster. Still, despite those summer moves and the fact that Jayson Tatum will be sidelined with a torn Achilles, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard remains confident in the team’s ability to compete.
“We’re definitely trying to be a playoff team. We’re trying to win a championship,” Pritchard said on the Celtics Talk Podcast with Chris Forsberg (story via Logan Reardon of NBC Sports Boston). “It’s not even about playoffs, we have one standard in Boston and it’s to win a championship. Everybody in that locker room will have the goal of competing for a championship. And we will do everything in our power necessary to go for that. That’s what (the fans) should know.”
Pritchard went on to acknowledge that it “definitely sucks” to lose players like Holiday, Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, adding that he’ll especially miss Holiday, who was “like a big brother.” Still, the Celtics guard is optimistic that other players will step up and play well in increased roles — Pritchard himself, who averaged a career-high 28.4 minutes per game last season, is among the players who will likely take on more responsibilities in 2025/26.
“I feel like everybody should be excited,” Pritchard said. “There’s a lot of opportunities across the board. For me, personally, I’m excited every year. Because it’s an opportunity to prove myself again, to show that I can take another step. And that’s my goal every year. I’m definitely hungry and motivated this year, been working really hard. So I’m excited.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Despite the fact that Mikal Bridges accepted a little less than he could have received on his four-year, $150MM contract extension, the Knicks project to be a second-apron team next season if they re-sign Mitchell Robinson, Yossi Gozlan writes for The Third Apron (Substack link). Within his look at the Knicks’ cap situation, Gozlan notes that Bridges’ unusual 5.69% trade kicker would put him in line to receive a bonus of about $6.17MM if he’s traded during the 2026 offseason — it would be almost the exact amount he gave up as part of his extension agreement (his max extension would have been worth roughly $156.17MM).
- In a mailbag for The Athletic, James L. Edwards III explores Robinson’s contract situation and the timing of Bridges’ extension, among other topics. Edwards also explains why he wouldn’t be a fan of even a minimum-salary investment in free agent guard Ben Simmons and confirms that the Knicks – along with many other teams around the league – have been monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s situation in Milwaukee throughout the offseason.
- After ending up at No. 8 in this year’s draft lottery, the Nets appear likely to tank again in 2025/26 in the hopes of landing a higher first-round pick. Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscriber link) discusses the potential pitfalls of that approach, noting that teams who prioritize draft positioning for multiple years risk creating culture issues. “A lot of these teams that try to bottom out by tanking like Brooklyn is doing, they think there’s no consequences,” one agent told Lewis. “You risk eroding the environment you’re trying to create. That’s what happened in Philadelphia.”
Stupid Knicks thinking they can like 1 for 1 KAT for Giannis. Like you have no draft picks left dumb dumbs. Hell will be frozen before MIL trades Giannis to the Knicks for any package they could offer.
ChapmansVacuum:
It’s amazing the NBA hasn’t hired you yet.
I know I mean its not like every person not in the Knicks front office sees this
Have the Knicks made an offer. This syte is called Hoopsrumors for a reason. If Knicks had every star they were rumored to want. There wouldn’t be a team in NBA with a star but them.
Pritchard parroting the company line. Even in the weak east, that’s not a championship roster.
That shows you don’t know much about Pritchard. It’s not him parroting the company line. He’s just a psycho gym rat. He’s wrong but he means it
“We’re definitely trying to be a playoff team. We’re trying to win a championship,” Pritchard said
Championship? Uhhhh…not this year.
Uhhhh…. He knows that.
GhostofThomasHamilton:
He does? Because he said the opposite. I guess you must be some kind of psychic who knows what he he’s thinking rather than what he says.
“Edwards also explains why he wouldn’t be a fan of even a minimum-salary investment in free agent guard Ben Simmons“
Minimum salary guy who’s not going to get a huge amount of minutes. I think a bit much is being made about his. It’s very low risk with a potential medium reward.
I believe the Celtics are still a playoff team. White and Simons make up a solid backcourt. Brown can have a big year cause he will have more freedom. Their bigs is only thing we need to watch. They are a vet playoff team. Who could be dangerous in playoffs.
This is the year Bridges has to step up and take a leading role. He had his getting to know you year. Now we need that break out year especially on offense. Gotta be more selfish Mikal 22 a game please. .