Overview
- The Celtics and guard Payton Pritchard agreed on Tuesday, Oct. 13, to a two-year, $44.2 million extension that begins in 2028-29 and carries a mutual option for the 2029-30 season.
- Because Pritchard’s current salary is below the league’s Estimated Average Player Salary, the deal is structured at the 140% EAPS ceiling with an 8% raise in year two, which equates to roughly $21.23 million in 2028-29 and $22.93 million in 2029-30.
- The extension removes Pritchard’s opportunity to reach unrestricted free agency in 2028 and locks him into Boston beyond his existing rookie-scale pact, while giving both sides the chance to opt into the final year.
- The contract reflects Pritchard’s rise from a late first-round pick to a key rotation piece—he helped the Celtics win the 2024 title, was 2025 Sixth Man of the Year, and posted career highs last season (17.0 PPG, 5.2 APG, 3.9 RPG)—and signals Boston’s desire to retain emerging contributors after this summer’s backcourt changes.
- Agents at CAA confirmed the terms to ESPN, teammates publicly celebrated on social media, and analysts say the structure is team-friendly because it pays Pritchard more now while preserving the Celtics’ salary-cap and luxury-tax flexibility.