contract extension

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Taylor Snow

BOSTON – As soon as Jrue Holiday arrived in Boston in early October, he knew it was a place where he wanted to remain long-term. It was a mutual feeling between him and the Celtics, and so when it came time to consider a contract extension, the decision was a no-brainer for both parties.

Holiday officially signed a new deal with the team Thursday afternoon, solidifying his commitment to the C’s and their commitment to him.

“Since I came here, the situation here, it’s only been love,” Holiday said following Thursday’s shootaround at Auerbach Center. “The city of Boston, not only them but the organization, made it super easy for [our family] to have to navigate and get through a time that was a bit stressful for us, so just an appreciation for them. We love the city, we love this organization, the players in it, and what they stand for, and we’re doing our best to get another banner.”

Winning is all that Holiday cares about at this point in his career, and he believes being with the Celtics gives him the best opportunity to do so. If his first regular season with the team serves as any indication, his intuition appears to be spot on.

“Once I got here, or even once I knew I was getting traded here, this was a part of what I wanted, what I envisioned,” Holiday said of his 62-win squad. “Being in a great organization, being here for a lengthy amount of time, and being able to play alongside guys like [Jayson Tatum] and [Jaylen Brown] and really trying to get more banners.”

In his first season with the team, Holiday has averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from 3-point range. His scoring and assists are down from when he was a Milwaukee Buck, but his rebounds and 3-point percentage are both career-high marks.

Those changes show how much Holiday has been willing to adjust to what the team needs him to do on any given night, and he’s embraced playing a jack-of-all-trades role. Plus, the five-time All-Defense selectee continues to be one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league.

“I’m really just being me,” he said. “Being whatever the team needs. There’s going to be days where I’m scoring a lot, but there’s going to be days where I’m going to have to defend and get steals – or I guess that’s every day – but there might be days where I’m just shooting corner 3s. And I feel like whatever fit that I [have] during that game or during that time, during that moment, I’m here for that.”

On top of that, Holiday believes that Joe Mazzulla has helped him develop in new ways – even at the age of 33.

“Joe has definitely grown my game, grown kind've my vision and perspective of basketball,” Holiday said. “Every year, I do plan to grow, but I think (him) being able to give me a different responsibility to look at the game differently – especially with the players and the people that we have, I've never been on a team like this. So it’s been fun just to get to know Joe and just his craziness in his schemes, but at the same time, really see our team put it together.”

In the end, Holiday hopes it all comes together in the form of a championship run – and not just one.

“I want to be here,” he affirmed. “I want to win multiple rings. I’ve heard people say that here plenty of times, so I’m ready for that.”

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Holiday on Extension: 'I Want to Be Here, I Want to Win Multiple Rings'

Marc D'Amico

The Boston Celtics are building an impressive core to carry them through the foreseeable future. Payton Pritchard is now officially a part of it.

The Celtics announced today that they have locked Pritchard up to an extension that will keep him in green and white for the next several years. He joins teammates Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford as players who have inked extensions over the past few months, and the team has already expressed interest in doing the same with Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

Word got out regarding the agreement Sunday, just hours before the Celtics hosted the 76ers during each team’s first preseason game. Pritchard celebrated the occasion by dropping 26 points on Philly to fuel a 114-106 victory for the Celtics.

Rightfully so, Pritchard was one of Boston’s players who spoke at the postgame podium following the contest, where he commented for the first time on his impending extension.

“It feels really good,” he said of agreeing to the deal. “Just to be secure, lock it in and be a part of a great organization, a great city. Obviously, I think this is the best basketball organization and city in the NBA.”

Security is something that wasn’t guaranteed to Pritchard as recently as a season ago, when he served as Boston’s fourth guard in a loaded backcourt. He appeared in a career-low 48 games and expressed frustration with a lack of playing time. His frustration brewed due to his personal belief that he could make a positive impact on the team. All he needed was the opportunity to do so.

Brad Stevens gave it to him this offseason by tightening the team’s group of guards. Stevens traded away two guards in Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon and brought in only one in Jrue Holiday. Those moves pushed Pritchard up to third on the guard depth chart behind Holiday and Derrick White, which presumably will lead to significantly more opportunities this season. As was evidenced Sunday night, that’s a good thing for Boston.

Pritchard is unquestionably one of the most lethal shooters in the game. He has shot 40.0 percent from 3-point range through the first three seasons of his career despite navigating inconsistent playing time. That percentage ranks as the 16th-best mark in the NBA among the 161 players who have attempted at least 600 3-pointers during the past three seasons.

At the other end of the floor, while Pritchard might not be on Holiday’s or White’s level defensively, he is certainly a pest whom opponents do not enjoy playing against. Pritchard is an all-out effort player who often picks up opposing guards full-court and is willing to do anything necessary to secure an extra possession. He said Sunday that he will lean on those characteristics as he continues to play off of the talented core Boston has assembled around him.

“Obviously I can be able to stretch the floor out and be able to maybe hit 3s and stuff like that, but I really try to hang my hat on the energy plays and picking up and little things like that to change the game,” Pritchard stated. “Obviously we’ve got unbelievable players, so scoring is not something we necessarily need. So I’ve gotta find ways to always affect the game.”

Any coach would love to hear that message coming from a rotational player on a championship-contending team. Pritchard has bought into his role, and that role will only expand as the remainder of his contract unfolds. To that point, by the end of the deal, it would be no surprise if Pritchard is outperforming the deal’s value by a long shot.

It’s clear that the Celtics believe in Pritchard, just as he always has always believed in himself. Starting today, he can step into his expanded role with security and a clear mind as he and his fellow core members pursue the ultimate goal of a championship

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Pritchard Remains Part of Long-Term Core with Extension

Boston Celtics

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BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics have signed center Robert Williams III to a contract extension, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Rob has worked hard to turn himself into a very impactful player, and his talent and selfless play give him an even higher upside to reach going forward,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “Rob has embraced being a Celtic from day one. He is a great teammate and is completely committed to getting better. We’re excited that he will continue to do so here in Boston.”

Originally selected by the Celtics in the first round (27th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft, Williams III has averaged 5.7 points on 72.0% shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocked shots, and 14.7 minutes in 113 games (16 starts) over three seasons in Boston. He has increased his scoring, rebounds, and assists in each year since joining the NBA.

Playing in a career-best 52 games (13 starts) in 2020-21, Williams III produced a career highs in points (8.0 ppg), rebounds (6.9 rpg), assists (1.8 apg), steals (0.8 spg), blocked shots (1.8 bpg) and minutes (18.9 mpg) last season. The Shreveport, LA native tallied a career-high 20 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting on April 2 vs. Houston, making him the first Celtics player in franchise history to produce 20+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 8+ assists while shooting 100% from the field.

Williams III set franchise marks during the 2021 NBA Playoffs as well, becoming the first Celtics player ever to record nine blocked shots in a postseason game during the team’s series-opening game against the Nets on May 22. He played in three games during that First Round matchup, averaging 6.3 points (64.3% FG), 5.0 rebounds, and 15.3 minutes.

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Celtics Sign Robert Williams III to Contract Extension

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics have signed six-year NBA veteran Josh Richardson to a contract extension, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We feel fortunate to be able to extend Josh,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “He is a talented offensive player, a versatile defender, and plays with an edge and toughness that Boston fans will love.”

Acquired as part of a two-player trade with the Mavericks on July 31, Richardson, 27, has posted career averages of 12.3 points (42.7% FG, 35.8% 3-PT, 83.2% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocked shots, and 30.6 minutes in 373 career games (299 starts) with Miami, Philadelphia, and Dallas. He has averaged at least 10.0 points in each of his last five seasons from 2016-17 to 2020-21, including a career-high 16.6 points per game with Miami in 2018-19.

Richardson produced 12.1 points (42.7% FG, 33.0% 3-PT, 91.7% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 30.3 minutes in 59 games (56 starts) with the Mavericks last season, marking the fourth time over the last five seasons he has recorded at least 10.0 points and 1.0 steals. The Oklahoma native was one of four NBA players to average 10.0 points and 1.0 steals while shooting at least 91.0% from the free throw line in 2020-21 (Paul/Curry/Irving).

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Celtics Sign Josh Richardson to Contract Extension

Marcus Smart’s most famous quote is, “I love Boston. Boston loves me.”

So, why wouldn’t he continue wearing the Green and White for as long as possible?

Smart will be doing so following Saturday’s announcement of his new contract extension with the Celtics. The two-time All-Defensive First Team performer spent the first seven years of his career with the franchise, and now he’s locked into a contract that would take him well over a decade with the team by the time it comes to an end.

Smart is entering into the final year of his current contract, which was signed during the 2018 offseason, before his extension kicks in for the 2022-23 season.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather play and no other fans I’d rather play in front of. I love Boston, and Boston loves me,” said Smart. “We’ve had some great moments and success in my time here, but there’s more to accomplish. I’m ready to put that Celtics jersey back on and get to work out on the Parquet with my teammates.”

Boston had good reason to seek an extension with Smart, and that reason extends far beyond his lockdown defense and his longstanding leadership within the organization. Yes, he is a game-changer at the defensive end who can defend any position at a high level. And yes, he’s a leader in the community who cherishes the opportunity to play for this historic franchise. But he’s a pretty darn good offensive player, too.

To recognize this, one must look past the shooting numbers – although Smart has shot a respectable 34.8 percent from long range over the course of the last three seasons while maxing out at 36.4 percent during the 2018-19 season.

Beyond the shooting, Smart has played at a high level for Boston’s offense. After the Celtics moved on from Kemba Walker, they’ll need him to continue that trend as he potentially steps in as the team’s new starting point guard.

Take the term “new” with a grain of salt, because Smart started 45 of his 48 games last season while spending 45 percent of his possessions as the team’s point guard, per basketball-reference.com. That percentage was by far his highest since his rookie season, when he spent 74 percent of his time at point guard.

New head coach Ime Udoka should find comfort in the fact that Smart will be around for a long time to supply a high level of offensive orchestration and output. Last season, Smart set new career highs in scoring (13.1 points per game), assists (5.7 APG), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.84-to-1), and offensive rating (114.2). He displayed very clearly that he capable of running an offense full-time while making sound decisions.

Truthfully, he has proven so throughout his career. Smart has logged an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.29-to-1 or better during six of his seven campaigns, and has never finished a season with a ratio that fell below 2-to-1.

Couple all of these skills together with his constant tenacity and energy and you’ll find a player who was built to play in Boston. It felt like destiny when Smart landed in the Celtics’ lap with the sixth overall pick in 2014. Now it’s official that their partnership will extend for years to come.

contract extension

Holiday on Extension: 'I Want to Be Here, I Want to Win Multiple Rings'

Pritchard Remains Part of Long-Term Core with Extension

Celtics Sign Robert Williams III to Contract Extension

Celtics Sign Josh Richardson to Contract Extension

Marcus Smart, the Longest-Tenured Celtic, Signs Contract Extension