How much should we worry about hurt feelings?

[Roy H.]

Jared Weiss thinks that we should worry a lot:

But the Brogdon situation could be trepidatious. A year ago, he green-lit a deal to the Celtics for a chance to win a title, played a crucial role in their run, and then got hurt. He was expecting to return to the team but it was hardly a surprise when they attempted to trade him, considering the rumors swirling for weeks. Once the trade gets out and the team’s willingness to part with you is confirmed, it’s tough to rebuild that bridge from the ashes.

That’s especially after he sacrificed a starting and typically closing spot to join the Celtics. ...

... Tagging on a first-rounder would help send Brogdon to a team weary about his injury history who can supply either a dribble-penetrating guard or a veteran wing who can replace Grant Williams. Boston really needs to keep Brogdon, but the cat’s out of the bag.

And that’s before even getting to Payton Pritchard.

The fourth-year guard, who already turns 26 in January as he finishes off his rookie contract, no longer has the luxury of time to earn himself a big deal. Pritchard will be entering his prime come restricted free agency and if he gets a four-year deal, that’s potentially the best contract he’ll get in his career. He was clear about wanting a fresh start elsewhere to get real minutes throughout the past season and his teammates — primarily Smart, of all people — were supportive of that desire publicly. It’s rare teammates are hinting at a player deserving more and saying he is auditioning for the rest of the league, but everyone could see how unfair last year was to Pritchard after what he did in the finals run.

So it’s going to take some convincing to make him comfortable with staying in Boston after anticipating an offseason trade for months. If he is the primary backup point guard, the case can be made he’ll get a similar rotation spot to most other places he could be moved. At this point, Pritchard has to do what’s best for himself and secure the bag. The public will often glorify championships and presume role players would love to just get a ring, but it’s different when you have a narrow window to make life-changing money.

https://theathletic.com/4640423/2023/06/26/celtics-nba-free-agency-marcus-smart-kristaps-porzingis/?source=emp_shared_article

I'm not as worried as Weiss is.  I think that Brogdon is a professional, and I don't think Pritchard has any leverage to make waves.

[Who]

Pritchard needs to go. He is professional enough not to cause problems but this is not a good situation. He needs to be allowed to leave. He has already sacrificed one whole year sitting out for the good of the team. It is ridiculous to ask him to do it again. He is being treated like a door-mat.

Not a good situation.

[Who]

I am not worried about Brogdon. It is not ideal but he'll get over it. Unlike Pritchard, Brogdon will playing regularly and part of a winning machine. That will help ease hurt feelings.

[radiohead]

Brad said he’s been in constant communication with Brogdon so I’m not really worried. Malcolm knows he has a great shot to win a ring here next season, and with Smart’s departure, a bigger role is in store for him as well.

[Celtics2021]

I think this is concern-trolling by Weiss.  It’s just as possible (I think likely) that Brogdon asked for a trade elsewhere if he couldn’t get a bigger role here.  With Smart traded, a larger role is possible.

Meanwhile, Pritchard has a rotation spot in front of him if he can earn it, although I do think the Celtics will continue to look to move him if the right deal presents itself.

[RJ87]

Pritchard needs to go. He is professional enough not to cause problems but this is not a good situation. He needs to be allowed to leave. He has already sacrificed one whole year sitting out for the good of the team. It is ridiculous to ask him to do it again. He is being treated like a door-mat.

Not a good situation.

He's being treated like a doormat? If he was a better option than Brogdon/Smart/White and we just didn't play him, I could see that. But he lost minutes to unquestionably better players that included a former DPOY, the 6MOTY, and an all-defensive team member.

And I'm going to disagree that Payton has been professional. Him going to the media is the opposite of that. He made his feelings known to management and they said they would try to accommodate him, why make it a public issue during the season? It became an unnecessary talking point.

[Vermont Green]

The thing that Weiss implied that I think is totally false is the idea that we would have to attach a first round pick to trade Brogdon.  Obviously, we could get more back if we include a first round pick with Brogdon, but Brogdon has value.  If we want to trade Brodgon, we can get something of value back for him, be it players or draft capital.

But I see no reason to trade him unless he is upset about all of this.  If he says "I'm good, let's go win a title", then no reason to trade him.  If he is feeling disrespected or whatever and wants to be traded, maybe trade him, maybe, but only if it is a good deal for the Celtics.  I suspect that he understands the business side of this enough that he is going to be happy to be on the Celtics and have an opportunity to play for a title, in a key role.

As to Pritchard, I don't understand why he would still have a problem.  We traded Smart, one of the 3 vets ahead of him last season.  He now is going to get his chance on the Celtics.  His issue has been addressed.

[celticinorlando]

Not worried about brogdan

Could careless about PP

[Who]

As to Pritchard, I don't understand why he would still have a problem.  We traded Smart, one of the 3 vets ahead of him last season.  He now is going to get his chance on the Celtics.  His issue has been addressed.

I don't think so because we are going to play bigger this season with two legit bigs and Jaylen sliding back to SG. So Jaylen will be taking Smart's minutes. Those minutes won't be going to Pritchard.

I don't see us playing as small in the backcourt next season. It was worthwhile when we had 3 big physical combo guards who were all average to above average starters. Not when one of those guys is Pritchard who is an average or more likely below average backup PG who is also undersized at 6-1.

I do not see Pritchard getting regular minutes here.

I see him being an injury replacement for Brogdon or White. Maybe they play a bit smaller again if one of the bigs or wings is out. Then maybe he gets another look in. But I do not see him as a regular but as an injury fill-in like he was last year.

The situation hasn't improved for him.

[Vermont Green]

As to Pritchard, I don't understand why he would still have a problem.  We traded Smart, one of the 3 vets ahead of him last season.  He now is going to get his chance on the Celtics.  His issue has been addressed.

I don't think so because we are going to play bigger this season with two legit bigs and Jaylen sliding back to SG. So Jaylen will be taking Smart's minutes. Those minutes won't be going to Pritchard.

I don't see us playing as small in the backcourt next season. It was worthwhile when we had 3 big physical combo guards who were all average to above average starters. Not when one of those guys is Pritchard who is an average or more likely below average backup PG who is also undersized at 6-1.

I do not see Pritchard getting regular minutes here.

I see him being an injury replacement for Brogdon or White. Maybe they play a bit smaller again if one of the bigs or wings is out. Then maybe he gets another look in. But I do not see him as a regular but as an injury fill-in like he was last year.

The situation hasn't improved for him.

You are right, we will play less "small" ball and this will mitigate the increased opportunity for Pritchard some, but I don't feel that Pritchard is being mistreated or anything.  He is a useful player on a good contract.  He will be the 4th guard.  He is at best the 3rd guard on any other team and probably the 4th in most cases anyway.  He has significant value to the Celtics in that role.  It make no sense to me to trade him just to trade him.

Now if we can replace him with a FA or maybe Davison (who I don't think is quite ready to take that role), and get back a useful player at another position, then fine, trade him and make the team better.  But no need to trade him just so that he is happier in his role.  I like Pritchard, plays hard, has some skill, but he needs to understand that this is a business, one that is going to pay him $4M+ to be the 4th guard on the Celtics, based on a contract he signed.  He will be fine whether he is traded or not.

[kraidstar]

Pritchard needs to go. He is professional enough not to cause problems but this is not a good situation. He needs to be allowed to leave. He has already sacrificed one whole year sitting out for the good of the team. It is ridiculous to ask him to do it again. He is being treated like a door-mat.

Not a good situation.

He's being treated like a doormat? If he was a better option than Brogdon/Smart/White and we just didn't play him, I could see that. But he lost minutes to unquestionably better players that included a former DPOY, the 6MOTY, and an all-defensive team member.

And I'm going to disagree that Payton has been professional. Him going to the media is the opposite of that. He made his feelings known to management and they said they would try to accommodate him, why make it a public issue during the season? It became an unnecessary talking point.

Agree.  He needs to shut his yap and focus on his game. He hasn't earned the right to complain about PT.

[BitterJim]

As to Pritchard, I don't understand why he would still have a problem.  We traded Smart, one of the 3 vets ahead of him last season.  He now is going to get his chance on the Celtics.  His issue has been addressed.

I don't think so because we are going to play bigger this season with two legit bigs and Jaylen sliding back to SG. So Jaylen will be taking Smart's minutes. Those minutes won't be going to Pritchard.

I don't see us playing as small in the backcourt next season. It was worthwhile when we had 3 big physical combo guards who were all average to above average starters. Not when one of those guys is Pritchard who is an average or more likely below average backup PG who is also undersized at 6-1.

I do not see Pritchard getting regular minutes here.

I see him being an injury replacement for Brogdon or White. Maybe they play a bit smaller again if one of the bigs or wings is out. Then maybe he gets another look in. But I do not see him as a regular but as an injury fill-in like he was last year.

The situation hasn't improved for him.

Some of them definitely will, unless we (1) add a different player good enough to take the ~13 mpg I see Pritchard getting (either at PG or by moving some of Tatum/Brown's minutes down a position) and (2) we have no injuries at any position (since Pritchard would be one of the first in line  for increased minutes due to an injury, no matter what position the injury is at since we have tons of flexibility in the middle of the lineup).

For a breakdown, I'd expect something like this when everyone is healthy:
PG: White 23, Brogdon 12, Pritchard 13
SG: Brown 23, Brogdon 16, White 9
SF: Tatum 25, Brown 13, Hauser 10
PF: Porzingis 13, Horford 24, Tatum 11
C: Rob 28, Porzingis 20

That's about 75% of the game with double bigs, and a quarter with JT at PF next to either KP or Rob. Brown still plays the majority of his minutes at SG (so we're playing big), and both Brogdon and White can get about 12 minutes as the lone guard (which I'm sure they both want). Those minutes can definitely get moved around a bit, but short of adding another difference maker (or re-signing Grant), I don't see how Pritchard wouldn't get at least 10mpg. And if he can prove himself more valuable than Hauser, the increase in our overall size means that his size would be less if a roadblock for him taking those minutes (since Hauser wouldn't be primarily be with 2 PGs already on the floor)

[green_bballers13]

Pritchard needs to go. He is professional enough not to cause problems but this is not a good situation. He needs to be allowed to leave. He has already sacrificed one whole year sitting out for the good of the team. It is ridiculous to ask him to do it again. He is being treated like a door-mat.

Not a good situation.

He's being treated like a doormat? If he was a better option than Brogdon/Smart/White and we just didn't play him, I could see that. But he lost minutes to unquestionably better players that included a former DPOY, the 6MOTY, and an all-defensive team member.

And I'm going to disagree that Payton has been professional. Him going to the media is the opposite of that. He made his feelings known to management and they said they would try to accommodate him, why make it a public issue during the season? It became an unnecessary talking point.

Agree. He needs to shut his yap and focus on his game. He hasn't earned the right to complain about PT.

Huh? Pritchard said this on 2/12:

"My mind's already reset. I've already been open about where I was at, and I'm here now," Pritchard said. "Any minutes I get, I'm gonna play because I love to play basketball. This whole thing about what everybody's been saying, it's -- you know, I love the city, I love this organization, I love my teammates. This whole thing was about me wanting to play because that's what I love to do. That's all it's been about.

"But I'm here, and I do love it here. I'm committed and I want to help this team any way I can to win a championship and put a banner up. Whatever that takes." source: https://sports.yahoo.com/payton-pritchard-clears-feelings-playing-225300294.html

What is the problem with any of this? He seems professional to me.

Follow up: would you want a young player that is content with little to no minutes per game? That seems like the opposite of a fierce competitor.

[cons]

theyre all professionals

im not worried

[RJ87]

Pritchard needs to go. He is professional enough not to cause problems but this is not a good situation. He needs to be allowed to leave. He has already sacrificed one whole year sitting out for the good of the team. It is ridiculous to ask him to do it again. He is being treated like a door-mat.

Not a good situation.

He's being treated like a doormat? If he was a better option than Brogdon/Smart/White and we just didn't play him, I could see that. But he lost minutes to unquestionably better players that included a former DPOY, the 6MOTY, and an all-defensive team member.

And I'm going to disagree that Payton has been professional. Him going to the media is the opposite of that. He made his feelings known to management and they said they would try to accommodate him, why make it a public issue during the season? It became an unnecessary talking point.

Agree. He needs to shut his yap and focus on his game. He hasn't earned the right to complain about PT.

Huh? Pritchard said this on 2/12:

"My mind's already reset. I've already been open about where I was at, and I'm here now," Pritchard said. "Any minutes I get, I'm gonna play because I love to play basketball. This whole thing about what everybody's been saying, it's -- you know, I love the city, I love this organization, I love my teammates. This whole thing was about me wanting to play because that's what I love to do. That's all it's been about.

"But I'm here, and I do love it here. I'm committed and I want to help this team any way I can to win a championship and put a banner up. Whatever that takes." source: https://sports.yahoo.com/payton-pritchard-clears-feelings-playing-225300294.html

What is the problem with any of this? He seems professional to me.

Follow up: would you want a young player that is content with little to no minutes per game? That seems like the opposite of a fierce competitor.

My original point is that it should've been kept in house. There was no need for this to be a public issue, but he made comments and then there has to be an article to "clear it up." You spoke to management and they've agreed to try to get you what you want, why start talking about it publicly? He went on a podcast and brought this up unprompted.