Is Pritchard a dead man walking?

[Roy H.]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

[ozgod]

I think we see a repeat of Grant Williams. Make this a prove-it year for him to try and increase his value for someone else to sign him. If that happens then good luck to him, they can then decide whether or not to match it (probably won't) or do a sign and trade like GWill. He's making less than the TPE we have, so the only consideration would be would it be worth Wyc to save some money by not using the TPE and instead shipping out Payton to get someone we could use the TPE to trade for anyway, like a Patty Mills or a Rubio. I don't think Wyc is that cheap 

[BitterJim]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

It seems to me that (for whatever reason), we're set on being below the 2nd apron. If that's the case next year, then we'll probably have to either let Pritchard go or trade Brogdon (and if Pritchard has a good year, Brogdon's probably the odd man out). We're reaching the point where we need to either start accepting the 2nd apron penalties or start hemorrhaging talent. I really hope this is just a one-year thing and we're going to go all in the next couple of years, but... I just really don't know at this point.

I think the only way we trade him this year is if we bring in a higher-paid player (like $5-7 million) and need to cut his salary to stay under the 2nd apron.

[ozgod]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

It seems to me that (for whatever reason), we're set on being below the 2nd apron. If that's the case next year, then we'll probably have to either let Pritchard go or trade Brogdon (and if Pritchard has a good year, Brogdon's probably the odd man out). We're reaching the point where we need to either start accepting the 2nd apron penalties or start hemorrhaging talent. I really hope this is just a one-year thing and we're going to go all in the next couple of years, but... I just really don't know at this point.

I think the only way we trade him this year is if we bring in a higher-paid player (like $5-7 million) and need to cut his salary to stay under the 2nd apron.

I feel like a lot of teams kind of want to stay under the second apron...more the flexibility impact than the cost. I feel like Brogdon is probably gone next season, or maybe even at the trade deadline. Except for the Suns...I feel like they think the team they have is the team they have and they don't care that they can't add to or adjust it...Brad has always been about having options up his sleeve given how he's changed the team every single year since he's moved to the front office.

[Vermont Green]

I think trading Smart addressed his concerns regarding his role and his speaking out about wanting a bigger role.  Even before the trade, I thought I saw something where he walked that back some.  In any case, I don't think that him wanting a trade or not is a factor in what the team could do with Pritchard.  For now, he slots very well behind Brogdon in the Guard/Combo Guard depth rotation.

As to the other factors, such as his pending RFA status, I am sure the team is giving some thought to that but way down on the list of concerns.  I am not that worried about any of that either though.  I would not let his upcoming RFA drive me to trade him.  Next season is next season.  He is a 4th guard.  Sure, we may lose him for nothing, but so what, replace him with Davison or some other draft pick or FA.  It is just not that consequential.

Overall, I suspect that Pritchard is in play.  Not that they are looking to move him but rather, he is potentially a useful piece to get something they need more, like a back up PF.  That said, I see it as more likely he starts the season on the team than he is traded, but it could still go either way.

[Celtics2021]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

If Pritchard has a great year, Brogdon will be traded.  Heck, he might be traded regardless or Pritchard's year, because paying $22.5 million for a 6th man is tough when you've got 3 players making over $30 million.

[Roy H.]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

It seems to me that (for whatever reason), we're set on being below the 2nd apron. If that's the case next year, then we'll probably have to either let Pritchard go or trade Brogdon (and if Pritchard has a good year, Brogdon's probably the odd man out). We're reaching the point where we need to either start accepting the 2nd apron penalties or start hemorrhaging talent. I really hope this is just a one-year thing and we're going to go all in the next couple of years, but... I just really don't know at this point.

I think the only way we trade him this year is if we bring in a higher-paid player (like $5-7 million) and need to cut his salary to stay under the 2nd apron.

Good call on potentially shipping out Brogdon and keeping PP as a backup PG.  That thought had slipped my mind (mostly because the quality differential between the two is pretty large, and I'm adverse to seeing a talent drain).

As an aside...  I think the Second Apron will be treated like MLB owners treat the Competitive Balance Tax (or whatever it's called):  it will become an excuse to not spend beyond an arbitrary limit, even for those franchises like the Red Sox that print money.

[bdm860]

I worry about a Terry Rozier situation.

Rozier gets to play big time minutes with the Kyrie/Hayward injuries in '18, even leads the team in playoff minutes.  Then gets moved down to 8th-9th in the rotation the next year and part of a disgruntled roster with their eyes on the door.  Similar situation with Reggie Jackson in OKC, stepping up when Westbrook goes out, then pushed back down when Westbrook returns.

I worry about Pritchard excelling with Brogdon out, only to get squeezed out of the rotation once Brogdon comes back, and not really being happy about it and it impacting team chemistry.  Sure if it's just Pritchard alone who's unhappy, you're 3rd string PG pining for 2nd string isn't enough to derail things, but it could be one of multiple things (maybe Porzingis/Brown not happy about losing shots to the other, Porzingis/Horford/Time Lord not happy about losing minutes to each other, Brogdon/White unhappy about not starting, Brogdon unhappy about trade rumors, etc.).

If Pritchard plays well with Brodgon out, ideal situation might be to flip him at the trade deadline for something after he's built up his stock.  Though with Brogdon's injury history, I wouldn't mind keeping Pritchard as insurance for a '24 title run, even if it means losing Pritchard for nothing (only ok with that if team wins it all).

[Celtics4ever]

I worry about Pritchard excelling with Brogdon out, only to get squeezed out of the rotation once Brogdon comes back, and not really being happy about it and it impacting team chemistry.

Trust me, you have nothing to worry about in this regard.  The odds of this happening are about as good as a snowball's chance in hell.  Pritchard isn't as talented as Reggie Bullock or Terry Rozier and that I think the chance of this happening is minuscule at best.

The team is still checking out guards, Wall was an example.   So they are still looking for guard talent.   

Does Joe Mazulla view Payton as anything more than a change of pace guy at the end of the bench to come in and hit shots?

[Ed Monix]

What if Brogdon is eventually moved instead of Prichard?

Celtics: Hart, Hartensein

Knicks: Brogdon, Champagnie

———

Boston Celtics

Depth Chart

PG White, Prichard, Banton

SG Brown, Hart, Walsh

SF Tatum, Hauser, Brissett

PF Horford, Hartensein, Griffin

C  Porzingis, Williams III, Kornet

Two Way: Davison

[Goldstar88]

I’d say the chances of Pritchard averaging 12pts/5ast are slim to none. White averaged 12pts/4rebs last year and Brogdon was at 15pts/4ast. Unless one of those guys go down, I don’t see it.

[footey]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

If Pritchard were to produce those numbers, why would we ever regret not trading him sooner?  That would be incredible production, even at the risk of losing him after the season, similar to Gabe Vincent for last year's Heat.

[gouki88]

We all know that Pritchard requested a trade.  None of us are completely sure of the status of that trade request, but it seems like things have calmed down with Smart being dealt and Brogdon having an injury.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pritchard will have a spot in the rotation.

But, what happens if Prichard has a great year.  Let's say 12 points, 5 assists, 40% 3PT%.

Do we see a repeat of Grant Williams?  Pritchard hits restricted free agency with a $5,959,022.  Will we end up losing him for a number above the Taxpayer MLE that we don't want to match?

And if so, do we honor his trade request now, trying to bring in a more veteran PG?

If Pritchard has a great year, Brogdon will be traded.  Heck, he might be traded regardless or Pritchard's year, because paying $22.5 million for a 6th man is tough when you've got 3 players making over $30 million.

That is my read of it too. Cheaper depth is probably the way they would go - retain PP, ship Brogdon. It's alright to have without players capable of routinely scoring 20 with a more top-heavy roster IMO

[gouki88]

I’d say the chances of Pritchard averaging 12pts/5ast are slim to none. White averaged 12pts/4rebs last year and Brogdon was at 15pts/4ast. Unless one of those guys go down, I don’t see it.

I mean, it is Brogdon...

[Goldstar88]

I’d say the chances of Pritchard averaging 12pts/5ast are slim to none. White averaged 12pts/4rebs last year and Brogdon was at 15pts/4ast. Unless one of those guys go down, I don’t see it.

I mean, it is Brogdon...

Played in 67 games last year. If he does that again, Pritchard isn’t averaging 12/5.