Time was winding down, and many wondered whether Payton Pritchard and the Celtics would agree on an extension before the season started. There was no need to worry, as Boston agreed with the shooting guard days before the deadline.
Pritchard agreed to a two-year, $44.2 million extension. The extension begins during the 2028-29 season.
Selected 26th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Pritchard averaged a career-high 17.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. If the Celtics and Pritchard didn’t reach an agreement by October 19, they could have revisited contract negotiations in July 2027.
What caught the eyes of NBA experts: a mutual option for 2029-30. If neither side picks up the option in the final year of the deal, Pritchard becomes a free agent.
NBA experts react to Payton Pritchard’s contract extension with Celtics
Many experts have expressed how valuable the extension Pritchard signed was, with one expert regarding it as a “bargain contract.”
Given Payton Pritchard had two years left on his deal, I’m a little surprised an extension happened now vs next offseason. The $22M AAV shows how Boston values Pritchard as an important part of their rotation. He should return positive value on that contract without any doubt.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 13, 2026
Since Payton Pritchard still had two years left on his contract, he would’ve been ineligible to sign an in-season extension, which is why the Celtics today ink him to a 2-year, $44.2M deal with a mutual option for the 2029-30 season. Great value for Boston.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) October 13, 2026
Payton Pritchard got a slightly bigger contract than Brandon Podziemski did at $22.1 million a year. Only difference is Pritchard is on a two-year extension. Great job by Brad Stevens and the Celtics for getting this done! https://t.co/dn4JX0syIQ
— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 13, 2026
Good security for Pritchard; another great value extension for Celtics. $22 million at start of deal is 12% of the cap. Pritchard had said this summer he wasn’t in a rush for extension, but offseason market might have nudged him.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) October 13, 2026
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has agreed to a two-year, $44.2 million contract extension Last year, he was essentially the best bargain contract in the league aside from rookie deals, other than his teammate Neemias Queta https://t.co/3EfwF2VKEB
— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) October 13, 2026
Another great deal for the Celtics Payton Pritchard at that price point is as good as it gets
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 13, 2026
And there’s the deserved payday for Payton Pritchard. Good for all sides to get this done before the season. From requesting a trade out of town to winning 6MOY and making $22 million a year 💰
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) October 13, 2026
This is the Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Shaedon Shapre, PJ Washington, Ayo Dosunmu area, salary-wise. Feels like another team-friendly deal, especially coming off the Podziemski 5-year extension, as the cap continues to rise. We’ll have more during Celtics-Hornets tomorrow.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) October 13, 2026
“Stephen Curry is the only player in NBA history who matches or exceeds all of Payton Pritchard’s career marks for three-point percentage (39.4), three-point attempts per 75 possessions (8.7) and assists per 75 possessions (5.0).” https://t.co/gm3HgcR6N9
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) October 13, 2026Payton Pritchard contract details
Pritchard’s salary is now set to increase from $8.3 million in 2027-28 to $21.3 million in 2028-29.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Pritchard will be eligible to sign another extension starting October 2028.
SeasonSalary2026-27$7,767,8572027-28$8,303,5712028-29$21,250,0002029-30$22,950,000 (mutual option)2030Unrestricted free agentMore Celtics