The Boston Celtics have a troublesome determination to make about who will exchange Jrue Vacation’s function on the crew.
Forward of the 2025-26 season, the Boston Celtics parted methods with veteran guard Jrue Vacation. Vacation was traded to the Portland Path Blazers following a two-year stint in Boston.
- Portland Path Blazers acquired: Jrue Vacation
- Boston Celtics acquired: Anfernee Simons, two future second-round draft picks
The transfer was made to get beneath the second apron, because the Celtics will keep away from Vacation’s $32.4 million wage subsequent season.
However with Vacation changed by Anfernee Simons, does it imply that the previous Blazers guard will get the nod to play within the beginning 5? Former NBA participant Dorrell Wright believes it is a dangerous concept.
Previous to getting traded to the Celtics, Simons had a seven-year stint with the Portland Path Blazers. Out of the seven seasons, Simons earned a beginning function for the ultimate three seasons.
Evidently, Simons’ expectations can be to have an analogous function on the Celtics. Nevertheless, Wright isn’t on board with this concept.
“I’m not rolling with it, to herald a younger gunner, he doesn’t know methods to win. Convey him to a profitable group, he has been dropping, interval,” Wright stated on The Timeout.
If not Simons then who ought to get these minutes? Wright believes it must be none aside from Payton Pritchard.
“And then you definately received Payton Pritchard proper there, that’s a slap within the face, for my part. You gonna begin him over Payton Pritchard, the Sixth Man of the Yr, who’s confirmed.
“That’s loopy to me,” he concluded.
Pritchard had an unimaginable 2024-25 season, he even earned ‘very good’ reward from Invoice Simmons. Conserving that in thoughts, it wouldn’t be the worst concept to reward Pritchard with a beginning function subsequent season.
The best technique to settle this debate can be to check what the 2 stars have achieved within the final season.
| Stats | Payton Pritchard | Anfernee Simons |
| Factors | 14.3 PPG | 19.3 PPG |
| Rebounds | 3.8 RPG | 2.7 RPG |
| Assists | 3.5 APG | 4.8 APG |
| Area Aim Share | 47.2% | 42.6% |
| Three-Level Share | 40.7% | 36.3% |
Whereas Simons had a lead over Pritchard in factors and assists per recreation, let’s not overlook how the 2 stars received their numbers.
Pritchard is a extra constant shooter from the sector and deep whereas enjoying simply 28.7 minutes per recreation off the bench.
Alternatively, Simons averaged his numbers whereas being a starter for all 70 of his appearances final season. He additionally performed 32.7 minutes per recreation.
With that stated, we must agree with Wright’s assertion that it could be a nasty transfer by the Celtics to insert Simons instantly into the beginning 5 over Pritchard.
