Payton Pritchard Advocates For Celtics To Make This Offseason Move

The Boston Celtics’ roster could look drastically different when they reconvene next season.

The franchise has several key decisions it will need to make this offseason as the Celtics face major salary tax implications. One of those tough choices is to determine whether to bring back Al Horford.

Horford, who will turn 39 in just a couple of weeks, could make it easy on the Celtics and decide to retire after 18 NBA seasons. The longtime veteran could also test free agency and go elsewhere in pursuit of capturing another NBA title. Horford side-stepped questions about his future when asked Saturday.

But those on the Celtics sure would like to see the team figure out another contract with Horford and get him back in green for at least one more season.

“I mean, you can’t replace Al,” Celtics guard Payton Pritchard told reporters Saturday, per the Boston Herald’s Zack Cox. “So I definitely hope we can get that figured out, because just his locker room presence alone is crucial. And then having him on the court, just for all the young guys to see how he goes about his business, how professional he is, he’s just a leader. So we definitely need him back.”

It seemingly wouldn’t take much for the Celtics to re-sign Horford. He made $9.5 million this season and due to his age and decreased production, wouldn’t be due for a raise. But Boston’s financial situation makes giving Horford an even modest contract tricky.

Horford is lauded as a consummate professional and stellar teammate even as his on-court impact diminished in the last couple of seasons. Horford’s numbers this season showed his decline as he shot a career-worst 42.3% from the floor while averaging nine points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

But there is something to be said about having a veteran leader on the roster, who can still contribute in a variety of ways. And Pritchard wasn’t the only one advocating for Horford’s importance to the team.

“He’s obviously meant a lot to our team and this franchise and he’s obviously an accomplished player and great, but I feel like in terms of an identity for the team, so much of it is him and his leadership,” Luke Kornet told reporters, per Cox. “You want to cherish every single year that you have an opportunity to even play with a guy like that because it is rare and not common to be able to have that experience.”