​A prominent NBA insider dismisses the notion that the Boston Celtics believe sixth man Payton Pritchard could become the next Jalen Brunson as laughable at best. It has been just over a week since the Celtics traded MVP contender Jaylen Brown to their rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers. Sending Brown to the team that knocked Boston out of this year’s playoffs was shocking enough on its own. The drama intensified when rumors circulated that Boston was seeking four first-round picks in a deal, only to end up with Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, which left many scratching their heads.
In the days that followed, the Celtics have been doing damage control. During a recent press conference to discuss the trade, Celtics president Brad Stevens argued that roster “optionality” played a major role in moving one of the franchise’s best players during his prime. Yet before Stevens offered that somewhat questionable explanation, Yahoo Sports NBA expert Tom Haberstroh floated another reason why Boston might be banking on Pritchard: he suggested Pritchard could be Boston’s in-house version of the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson.
Now veteran NBA insider Zach Lowe has weighed in on the idea that the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year could reach Brunson’s level, and he’s not buying what Boston or Haberstroh are selling. “Please miss me with the Boston thinks Payton Pritchard is going to be Jalen Brunson talk. Did you just see Jalen Brunson? Just see what that dude did in the Finals? I love Payton Pritchard. He’s not going to be Jalen Brunson,” Lowe said.
Haberstroh did offer up some compelling data on why the Celtics value Pritchard. He highlighted that in 10 games without Brown, Pritchard averaged 25 points, 7 assists, and just under 5 rebounds while shooting 44% from three. Boston went 8-2 in those games. He also excelled in isolation plays, posting a 57.7% effective field-goal percentage, which ranked second among 63 players with at least 100 isolation attempts last season. Pritchard’s performance this past season was even stronger than in 2024-25, further fueling the buzz around his potential.
However, Lowe remains skeptical that Pritchard can ultimately reach Brunson’s level of impact and consistency. And his skepticism may reflect a broader sentiment that has grown among observers after this year’s playoffs. The notion that a role player could suddenly blossom into a franchise-altering star is appealing, but many insiders view it as unlikely given the differences in experience, workload, and tangible track records between Pritchard and Brunson. As the Celtics navigate the post-Brown era, discussions about Pritchard’s ceiling will continue to spark debate, with pundits weighing short-term versatility against long-term projections.