Boston Celtics Likely To Shift Payton Pritchard Into Their Starting Lineup

The Boston Celtics have been one of the NBA's most dominant teams in recent years, but unfortunately, it appears that 2025/26 is set to be rather different. That comes as a result of the injury to Jayson Tatum suffered in the NBA Playoffs, and after the team made several trades that indicate contention may not be on the cards for them next season.

Now, we know of one major change that the team is looking to make, as reports from Fast Break Journal have revealed that the Celtics are likely to elevate Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup next season.

This comes on the back of a season in which Pritchard was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year, an award he thoroughly deserved after posting career highs across the board with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. With Tatum out and Jrue Holiday traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, this is likely the only move that makes sense for Boston, with Pritchard likely to pair with Derrick White in the backcourt for a team that is being severely underestimated.

This will be the first time in Pritchard's career that he gets an extended role in the starting lineup, as he has come off the bench in 330 of his 347 games thus far in his NBA career. As a result, the team will shift Anfernee Simons, acquired in the Holiday deal, to the bench, and while they may not have the ceiling of the team from the past few years, they still should not be taken lightly around the NBA.