NBA Rumors: Celtics Player Asks For Trade

The Boston Celtics had a disappointing finish to the season upon their Game 7 elimination to the Miami Heat. But perhaps one player is breathing a sigh of relief, hoping it was his last game in Boston. Three-year guard Payton Pritchard "has made it clear" that he is looking for a trade.

Payton Pritchard has made it clear he hopes to be traded this summer, per @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/7yScLaRfdI

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 1, 2023

Jared Weiss and Jay King of The Athletic say that multiple team sources tell them that Pritchard wants out. 

This would jibe with comments that the 25-year-old made on a podcast earlier this season. 

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

Pritchard, whose minutes have actually ticked down in his three seasons in Boston, said he's definitely looking for a bigger role somewhere. “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

The first-round pick in the 2020 Draft saw just 13.8 minutes of floor time this season in 48 games while collecting no less than 30 DNP-CDs (did not play, coach's decision). 

The nine times that he has started over the past three seasons, Pritchard has actually put up admirable numbers, averaging 11.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Overall this season, he averaged a career-low 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. 

Celtics president Brad Stevens certainly feels for the young guard, and understands his frustration; he even hints that he just might be willing to accommodate his trade request.  

"I really feel for a guy like him because there are guys that work at it and then there are guys that are obsessed with it. And he's obsessed with it," said Stevens.

"He works at it. He's a really good player, as I've told him many times this year. 'Everybody knows you're a really good player, not only in this building, but around the league... But we don't know how that's all going to shake itself out moving forward."

Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports