Report: Celtics Appear Set To Alter Starting Five

Payton Pritchard likely will open the 2025-26 season in the Boston Celtics starting lineup.

A source confirmed to Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.com in a story published Thursday that the Celtics intend to start Pritchard alongside Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. They would use Anfernee Simons as “a high-scoring option off the bench” if he stays on the roster, Afseth indicated.

Afseth reported the organization views Pritchard’s “steady development, system familiarity, and ability to handle greater responsibilities” as key reasons for the move.

The move follows a turbulent offseason that began with Jayson Tatum suffering an Achilles injury in the playoffs, an injury expected to sideline him for the entire season. Boston also dealt Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in salary-shedding trades.

Holiday was sent to Portland for Simons, who averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 70 games last season for the Trail Blazers. Despite his proven scoring, Boston reportedly has explored trading his expiring $27.7 million deal without success.

Pritchard is coming off a Sixth Man of the Year campaign in which he averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 80 games. In three starts last season, he produced 21.7 points, 7.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, showing that he can handle the expectations of a starting role.

Boston also sent Georges Niang and two future second-rounders to Utah for RJ Luis Jr., a move that helped slash their luxury tax hit from $73.1 million to $30.4 million. They also added veteran forward Chris Boucher on a one-year, $3.3 million deal to give the frontcourt some needed muscle.

With Porzingis out of the picture, Boston’s interior depth will be under the microscope from the jump. That makes Pritchard’s knack for pushing tempo and creating offense all the more important if the Celtics want to stay in the Eastern Conference fight.