Payton Pritchard drafted #26 overall

Cesar Crespo

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Should be able to help right away assuming he sticks around. Is a 4 year college player going to do the stash route?
 

DJnVa

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KOC had heard that Pritchard had a promise toward end of 1st round.
 

Mooch

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Tough kid, excellent shooter and ball handler. I like the pick.
 

DJnVa

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I want to compare him to Herro but not because he's a white dude!
 

PedroKsBambino

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And there is your Pritchard promise team..... us,
Yup. I don't really like the pick, but I do acknowledge he has some of the Fred Van Vleet-like traits that sometimes lead to lower picks having a positive impact.

Still, I'd rather have taken the shot on Terry or McDaniels for the upside. Prove me wrong, Pritchard
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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Really enjoyed watching Pritchard play at Oregon. Tough kid. Will be interesting to see if he can get by defenders at the NBA level, but hopefully he'll be a dependable backup PG who can run the offense, hit open 3's and play tough defense.

And yes, Danny did just draft himself.
 

BaseballJones

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Really enjoyed watching Pritchard play at Oregon. Tough kid. Will be interesting to see if he can get by defenders at the NBA level, but hopefully he'll be a dependable backup PG who can run the offense, hit open 3's and play tough defense.
Yeah this is what I see. Tough, hard-nosed player, good shooter, solid overall player. Looks like a backup point guard with offensive ability. You can do a lot worse at this point in the draft.

With their last pick, I'd just shoot for a guy with as much upside as possible, even if it's only a 5% chance of him ever reaching it. No idea who that is though.
 

BaseballJones

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Pritchard, from ESPN.com:

Pre-Draft Analysis
One of the most accomplished guards in the draft, Pritchard's shooting range, toughness and maturity should get him on the floor early in his career. While he shouldered a heavy load for the Ducks and can score at all three levels in pick-and-roll, his value as a spot shooter makes him intriguing in multiguard lineups. Pritchard moves well off the ball, has excellent shot preparation and is an efficient catch-and-shoot marksman. He's a pull-up threat once he crosses half court. He's also a greatly improved finisher with all the veteran tricks.

On defense, Pritchard is hard-nosed and sturdy enough to hold his own, even with teams likely to seek him out as a rookie. The 22-year-old senior shows similarities to Toronto's Fred VanVleet as a tough, ground-bound guard with the knack for timely shots. Jalen Brunson is another name that comes to mind when evaluating Pritchard. Like VanVleet has done alongside Kyle Lowry and Brunson to a lesser degree next to Luka Doncic, I'd expect Pritchard to emerge as an under-drafted overachiever who can fit next to another accomplished guard on a playoff team.

Pritchard isn't the shiftiest shot creator, a run-and-jump athlete or very big, at 6-2 with a 6-4 wingspan. The fact that he can pull up from 30 feet will open up opportunities, but creating efficient offense early in his career will be challenging. He's also more of a scorer than a playmaker at this stage. His critics will also question whether he can keep up with the NBA's elite point guards defensively, but I think he'll ultimately be an asset on that end of the floor. -- Mike Schmitz

Post-Draft Analysis
One of the best players in college basketball, Payton Pritchard's deep shooting range, toughness, experience and character will likely make him a fan favorite in Boston early in his career. -- Jonathan Givony
 

BigSoxFan

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He's definitely a limited athlete but his shot form, release, and range is really good. This appears to me an attempt to get what we were hoping to get out of Carsen Edwards. It will be interesting to see how the Waters, Pritchard, Edwards battle shakes out because with Kemba likely needing some load management, there will be minutes to be had. Edwards is more of an undersized 2 so it's more of a Waters/Pritchard competition, IMO.
 

Koufax

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I'm an extreme skeptic on Waters. He's too small. Pritchard will zip right by him on the depth chart, assuming Waters is still on the roster.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Still, I'd rather have taken the shot on Terry or McDaniels for the upside. Prove me wrong, Pritchard
(posted this in draft thread but goes better here so I am moving).

With regards to Terry, I was looking for something else and found this article on Tyrell Terry: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2020/11/17/21563845/know-the-prospect-tyrell-terry.

Only reason I am posting is because the article twice compares Terry to PP. Here are the quotes (bolded the parts important to us):

So why is Terry, who on some draft boards is the second-highest rated point guard after LaMelo Ball, any different? His size raised doubts in the past, but from April to October he added 15 pounds and hoped to add five more by draft night. At 6’2” he was a solid rebounding guard for the Cardinal; his rebounding % was higher than what any Knick guard put up last season. Despite the diminutive stature, Terry did fine finishing at the rim. The only point guard prospect to hit a better % on more attempts was Oregon’s Payton Pritchard.

and

But it isn’t the lay-ups or midrange menagerie that has Terry’s stock rising like the sun. It’s his long game that truly stands out. Among point guard prospects, only Pritchard and Cassius Winston took more 3s and hit a higher %.
 

Marbleheader

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I'm an extreme skeptic on Waters. He's too small. Pritchard will zip right by him on the depth chart, assuming Waters is still on the roster.
Danny's comments indicate he's expecting Pritchard to come in to camp ready to contribute.

“Payton is a fun player, a four-year college player that can step right in and play in the NBA, in my opinion,” Ainge said
 

joe dokes

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He sounds a bit like Grant Williams, in terms of the whole ability to contribute being gretaer than the sum of the parts.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Sam Vecenie’s scouting report:


37. Payton Pritchard | G | Oregon | Birthdate: Jan. 28, 1998 (Age: 22) | 6-2 | 200 LBS | Hometown: West Linn, Ore. BACKGROUND: An Oregon kid through and through. Grew up right outside of Portland and was the top player in the state of Oregon for his last two years of high school. He was a three-time state champion and won back-to-back Oregon player of the year awards. A four-star recruit, Pritchard originally committed to Oklahoma, which both of his parents attended. His father, Terry, played football and his mother, Melissa, was a gymnast. Ultimately though, the pull of staying home for a strong program was too much. Has been involved with USA Basketball at youth levels, being named to the Hoop Summit team in 2016 and the U19 World Cup team in 2017. Was named to the U19 World Cup All-Tournament team in 2017. Pritchard is a strong student and positive character kid, having gotten great grades. Was a four-year starter at Oregon, including as a freshman on their Final Four run in 2017. Moved into a more primary role in 2018 and 2019 before catapulting into stardom late in his junior season, carrying that into his senior year. He won the 2020 Pac-12 Player of the Year award, was the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament MVP, a consensus first team All-American, and a finalist for the Wooden Award.

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE Age GP PPG RPG APG TOPG BPG SPG FG% 3P% FT% 2016-17 Oregon NCAA (Pac-12) 19 39 7.4 3.4 3.6 1.4 0.1 1.2 39.3 35.0 73.0 2017-18 Oregon NCAA (Pac-12) 20 36 14.5 3.8 4.8 2.1 0.0 1.4 44.7 41.3 77.4 2018-19 Oregon NCAA (Pac-12) 21 38 12.9 3.9 4.6 2.0 0.1 1.8 41.8 32.8 83.8 2019-20 Oregon NCAA (Pac-12) 22 31 20.5 4.3 5.5 2.7 0.0 1.5 46.8 41.5 82.1

STRENGTHS: A real playmaker with ball in hand. Pritchard plays with a fearless mindset and is clearly not fazed by the moment or whatever he’s faced with. He’s a competitor who really battles out there. A leader who talks, and whose energy his teammates feed off of. Better as a ballhandler than he gets credit for. Keeps the ball on a string. Quicker in and out of crossovers as a senior after adjusting and getting more bend throughout his lower half to explode more in and out of moves. Allows his change of pace and tempo to have more effectiveness. Not afraid to push tempo in transition. For my money, Pritchard’s ballhandling is his best, most NBA-ready skill.

Particularly excels in pick-and-roll as a scorer. Defenders have to account for his terrific pull-up shooting at all times, which forces them to play tighter and account for hesitation moves. Range out to about 28 feet. Also excels as a shooter directly off the catch. His footwork and prep into shots is great and he’ll be an immediate impact player knocking down shots. Smart passer and playmaker and he plays an unselfish brand of basketball for being more of a scoring-minded guard. He’s capable of keeping the ball moving without derailing possessions for his own purpose. This is the modern, scoring guard, floor general archetype. Generally fights on defense and knows where he needs to be.

WEAKNESSES: Overall defensive value is obviously going to be concern as he moves up levels. Pritchard’s competitiveness allowed him to not be a liability in college and he does have some relative size at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with a 6-foot-5 wingspan. But with the way that NBA teams target smaller guards with side-to-side lateral quickness concerns, Pritchard will need to prove that he can’t get picked apart on that end. He doesn’t need to be an elite-level defender, but he needs to at least prove a requisite level of average play.

As a passer, Pritchard isn’t the most creative guy in the world. He’s excellent at reading the big man in help and finding either the dump off option or his roller, but he doesn’t really expand his vision outside of that to the cross-corner kickout or to the opposite wing. In order to take best advantage of defenders as they really close out on him hard on catch-and-shoots, or as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, Pritchard’s vision will need to keep making strides. He also generally struggles to get by athletic on-ball defenders in isolation. Needs a ball-screen to get a step in those situations. At the rim, he’s a tough finisher, but is unlikely to be quite as good in the pros as he’s not particularly explosive athletically.

SUMMARY: Pritchard was one of my favorite players in college hoops this year. I voted him third in my Naismith Player of the Year ballot. His fearlessness and overall toughness really make me want to buy in. I like him as a potential backup point guard that can occasionally get hot enough to close games for teams in his prime. But to get beyond that level, he’s going to really improve his passing and prove that his defensive ability translates to the next level. Given his competitive mindset and strong, team-first attitude, I’d expect he’ll play in the NBA for a while. But improvement will need to happen for him to get beyond that level. GRADE: Second rounder who gets a guaranteed contract.
 

NomarsFool

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If you are TimeLord, you are feeling good today.

If you are Carsen Edwards, you are putting stuff in boxes.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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If you are Carsen Edwards, you are putting stuff in boxes.
That's what happens when you don't put stuff in baskets.

Anyhoo, as a total novice on the college game I am really intrigued by the Pritchard pick. The Van Vleet and Ainge comparisons sound useful to me.
 

reggiecleveland

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Sorry for a philosophical observation, but the NBA draft has become more like the MLB draft. Tools vs Skill. Can this kid shoot/hit at the next level? The Celtics drafted two guys that if they shoot well enough will be players. It pretty much that simple. Last year they took a flyer on Carson Edwards, a kid that shot 40% and 36% his last two years of college taking lots of 3s. But he has had "trouble with the curve" so to speak at the pro level.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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I posted the Nesmith thread that Dean on draft hated the Cs draft. Here are his thoughts on PP:

Pritchard is small, unathletic, and wasn't particularly good until he was a 22 year old senior. He shouldn't have been drafted let alone in round 1
When Pritchard was a freshman at Oregon I recall thinking that he wasn't really a prospect but could be a good college player. Then he was decent but nothing special for 3 years before FINALLY breaking out as a senior. Good luck waiting for him to ever be a useful NBA player

View: https://twitter.com/deanondraft/status/1329268358831874049
 

DannyDarwinism

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Two things that strike me watching his film:

1. He's got some handles. Keeps the ball on a string, and stays in control. That's much harder with the length and quickness at the next level, but it's an asset for sure.

2. Crazy range with a very nice form. Consistently pulling up from 28 feet and bombing them in with just really strong mechanics.

This draft was heavy on decent back-up PGs, and I preferred Malachi Flynn, Tre Jones and Devon Dotson in that mold, but I had thought that Ainge might have been targeting Tyrell Terry because he's a shooter and fierce competitor with Saturn nuts and Danny likes guys like that in a guard prospect, and while I had the specific guy wrong, Danny drafted a shooter and a maniac baller with Saturn nuts. I've never really been able to figure out when guys like him- great college floor generals with questionable athleticism- will make it and when they won't. I suspect there's a baseline level of quickness required, then everything above that is a matter of increments and opportunity. I think Pritchard is above that baseline, but beyond that, I really don't know.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I didn't care for this pick but I think he has a role with this team as a 3rd PG if he pans out. I'm not sure what more you want from a late 1st round pick. He can shoot a little, handle the ball and can pass the rock.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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For me the question is can Pritchard be an upgrade on Wanamaker? If yes, this is a successful late 1st pick.
I'd be pretty surprised if he is. While I have had my share of grievances with Wanamaker, he has good size, is quite strong, and hits open catch and shoot threes at a pretty absurd rate (around 50% IIRC), and while his D could be very up and down, he's not necessarily a guy you have to worry about being picked on every time down the floor.

If Pritchard's shooting stroke is NBA ready, that certainly gives him a leg up on Waters/Edwards, but he's going to have to earn his way to a real role.
 

ponch73

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Wanted to throw out the possibility that Danny has some inside information on Pritchard. Remember that Danny hails from Eugene, Oregon where he was a high school All-American in basketball, football and baseball. Eugene happens to be home to the University of Oregon, and the collegiate home to the aforementioned Pritchard for the last four years. Maybe that's why Danny drafted a guy several spots ahead of the Twitter draft consensus.

While this is one possibility, another possibility is that Danny is a huge Eugene and University of Oregon homer, although I don't recall him drafting an Oregon Duck prior to this season.
 

The Mort Report

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I posted the Nesmith thread that Dean on draft hated the Cs draft. Here are his thoughts on PP:

Pritchard is small, unathletic, and wasn't particularly good until he was a 22 year old senior. He shouldn't have been drafted let alone in round 1
When Pritchard was a freshman at Oregon I recall thinking that he wasn't really a prospect but could be a good college player. Then he was decent but nothing special for 3 years before FINALLY breaking out as a senior. Good luck waiting for him to ever be a useful NBA player

View: https://twitter.com/deanondraft/status/1329268358831874049
This is such a stupid take. If you're right cool, if you're wrong you look like a fucking asshole. Guy doesn't deserve our attention

edit:eek:bv not at you wade

2nd edit: yeah I like my first edit, not changing it
 
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wade boggs chicken dinner

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This is such a stupid take. If you're right cool, if you're wrong you look like a fucking asshole. Guy doesn't deserve our attention

edit:eek:bv not at you wade

2nd edit: yeah I like my first edit, not changing it
No worries, as I explained in Nesmith thread, I don't keep up with talking/typing heads and I posted because he was cited a couple of times as an analytics guy during JB/JT draft discussions. Other posters have mentioned that he seems to do a lot less # crunching these days.
 

mcpickl

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I posted the Nesmith thread that Dean on draft hated the Cs draft. Here are his thoughts on PP:

Pritchard is small, unathletic, and wasn't particularly good until he was a 22 year old senior. He shouldn't have been drafted let alone in round 1
When Pritchard was a freshman at Oregon I recall thinking that he wasn't really a prospect but could be a good college player. Then he was decent but nothing special for 3 years before FINALLY breaking out as a senior. Good luck waiting for him to ever be a useful NBA player

View: https://twitter.com/deanondraft/status/1329268358831874049
This cat also said this, so...

View: https://twitter.com/deanondraft/status/881189908022538241
 

lovegtm

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He also was certain Jaylen Brown would be a total scrub, and even into Jaylen's second season when he was clearly gonna be at least a good player was making up excuses about how all his scoring was in transition, couldn't create offense blah blah blah. He holds on to his takes.
But oh, let me tell you, that Lonzo Ball is going to be a generational player.
 

lovegtm

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I'm still not sold on the pick, but as I watch him more, his ability to decelerate/control his body to get to 15-foot jumpers and layups in tight spaces is impressive.
 

Jimbodandy

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I'm still not sold on the pick, but as I watch him more, his ability to decelerate/control his body to get to 15-foot jumpers and layups in tight spaces is impressive.
It is because you liked one of the remaining guys? I was kind of hoping for Terry, but mine is an uninformed opinion. Clearly Danny wasn't interested in him or Bane, Carey, Flynn, etc.
 

lovegtm

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It is because you liked one of the remaining guys? I was kind of hoping for Terry, but mine is an uninformed opinion. Clearly Danny wasn't interested in him or Bane, Carey, Flynn, etc.
Na, I just am a skeptical of short old guys. His shooting touch is really impressive though.
 

TripleOT

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If Prichard can crack the rotation he’s going to become a fan favorite in Boston (if fans are ever allowed at games again).

if he’s half of FVV, I’ll be happy.
 

NomarsFool

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Given how little BW signed for with GS, I think he would have been a bit of a safer bet to fill the 3rd PG slot. We already know that BW can play defense and hit catch and shoot 3s. But, Pritchard certainly has more upside - since we know at age 31 or whatever, BW is what he is. If it were me, I would have kept BW and take a swing at someone else with this pick. Time will tell.
 

Cellar-Door

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Given how little BW signed for with GS, I think he would have been a bit of a safer bet to fill the 3rd PG slot. We already know that BW can play defense and hit catch and shoot 3s. But, Pritchard certainly has more upside - since we know at age 31 or whatever, BW is what he is. If it were me, I would have kept BW and take a swing at someone else with this pick. Time will tell.
Remember, we likely knew we were signing Teague. I doubt Wanamaker wanted to stay to be the 3rd/4th PG. Anyway, you don't make picks at 26 for their rookie year. This was more a question of, what makes sense for the 14th/15th spot in terms of value over the first contract and beyond. I doubt Wanamaker was even a consideration... they just liked Pritchard as a PG prospect.