NBA Rumors: Celtics Guard Sounds Like He Wants Out

The Boston Celtics are on a championship mission. They're not really in the mindset of finding playing time for young, developing players at this point. But that doesn't mean that everyone in town has to like it. Take guard Payton Pritchard, for instance. He hinted at leaving the Celtics after the season due to his lack of PT.

Payton Pritchard says he’s looking for a bigger role 👀

“Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

(Via the Point Forward podcast / h/t masslive) pic.twitter.com/0jkZNv1i4l

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) January 30, 2023

On Andre Iguodala's Point Forward podcast this week, Pritchard said “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.” 

'After I'm done here, after this year' — Sure sounds like a guy with one foot out the door. 

Pritchard is averaging just 12.5 minutes per game in this his 3rd season in the NBA, actually down a minute and a half from his sophomore year, and significantly down from his 19 minutes per contest in his rookie year when he was a real sparkplug off the Boston bench.

With Malcolm Brogdon coming in this year, and Derrick White being added at the trade deadline last season, Pritchard has had a hard time finding playing time.

"I know there's gonna be bigger things ahead, and I'll have bigger roles," added Pritchard. "It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what [Celtics president] Brad [Stevens] and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step."

Photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports