Boston Celtics’ Key Contributor Predicted to Outperform Contract

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Following the trade of star forward Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics will need some other players to step up in a major way if they’re going to remain in the contender conversation in the Eastern Conference.

One particular player for the Celtics was recently predicted to outperform his current contract during the 2026-27 NBA season.

Payton Pritchard Predicted to Outperform Contract With Boston Celtics

Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar listed Celtics guard Payton Pritchard as a player who could play above his paygrade in the coming campaign. Pritchard will make just $7.7 million for the season. He will be the sixth-highest paid player on the team, behind Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Mitchell Robinson and Sam Hauser.

“Payton Pritchard has become almost an untouchable NBA rotation player following his No. 26 overall selection, and last season he took another step. He averaged 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 79 games, including 50 starts, while shooting 46.4% from the field and 37.7% from three for the Celtics,” Bitar wrote.

“The biggest change was responsibility. Pritchard was trusted with major minutes and increased playmaking duties, and he responded by posting career highs across several categories. . . . Yet he’s still making less than $8 million. His 2026-27 salary is $7.77 million, followed by $8.30 million in 2027-28. That’s an incredibly reasonable price for a guard who can shoot, run an offense, and provide instant scoring.”

Pritchard will be eligible for a contract extension with the Celtics prior to the onset of the coming campaign, but it remains to be seen if he’ll get one.

Payton Pritchard Not Focusing on Extension With Boston Celtics

With two full seasons remaining on his current contract in Boston, Pritchard made it clear that he isn’t focusing on a potential extension before the start of the season.

“No, I don’t really think about it. It’s just not something I’m really looking at,” Pritchard said. “I have two years on my contract and it’s just, there’s no rush on it. We’ll talk, obviously, but we have a whole next year to talk about an extension. For me, it’s like, just focus on getting better and becoming the best basketball player I can possibly be.”

Perhaps a deal will be reached before the season, but if not, Pritchard could help himself in a big way at the negotiating table next offseason with a productive campaign.