The Boston Celtics are typically one of the active teams when the NBA offseason rolls around. This offseason was no different for the league-leading 18-time champions, making a blockbuster deal to trade away Jaylen Brown.
Boston also managed to sign Mitchell Robinson to a team-friendly three-year, $47 million contract to fill out the center rotation. Now, with Paul George on the roster replacing Brown, and Jayson Tatum fully returning, the starting lineup will look significantly different than last season. Whether or not Robinson starts over Neemias Queta is a different story, but the question remains in the backcourt.
Jay King of The Athletic has a bold opinion on who he thinks should come off the bench, and it may surprise many Celtics fans.
Will the Celtics Start Payton Pritchard?
Apr 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) react after a play against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“The other question Joe (Mazzulla) will have is the shooting guard position next to Derrick White. I think Payton Pritchard, obviously he’s a worthy starter in the NBA, to me, it makes sense to bring him off the bench just for roster construction purposes,” King said on Kevin O’Connor’s podcast.
Many assume Payton Pritchard will start for the Celtics alongside White to give them a true point guard in the lineup, but King doesn’t think they should. King explains that if you start Pritchard, that means the Celtics will likely have to play Mike Conley more often. Conley, though great at one point in his career, is far past his prime and will be 39 on opening night. The Celtics signed him this offseason as a fail-safe at point guard.
What the Celtics may do is put a more defensive-minded player in the starting lineup. Hugo Gonzalez or Jordan Walsh may get the nod, since Gonzalez was the deciding factor in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and Walsh just signed a long-term deal.
If Boston does decide to go with a defense-oriented starting lineup, it could mean Pritchard remains in his bench role. This would give Boston another scoring threat off the bench as well as a true ball handler. Conversely, White’s offensive game could open up if he doesn’t have to take the toughest assignment each night.
Gonzalez and Walsh both stepped up last season, and each is still super young. Boston has a lot of stock put into these two defensive monsters. It may make sense to start one of them despite Pritchard’s scoring ability. Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens have made their impact on the team since joining the staff. Keeping Pritchard on the bench might be their next bold move.