The Boston Celtics are going to need their young core to step up this season to replace the production of Jaylen Brown in the aftermath of the team trading him to the Philadelphia 76ers.

In exchange for Brown, the only player Boston received in return to help this season is 36-year-old veteran Paul George, who’s only played more than 50-games twice in the last five years.

As Boston reshapes the roster, they’re going to need the remaining young core to step up and contribute for the team this season. For what it’s worth, these players are who the Celtics have attached themselves to for the long haul with Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez.

Payton Pritchard

Since Pritchard’s been in Boston, we’ve seen almost every iteration of his game evolve on the court. In the beginning of his career, he was needed to be a standout shooter and provide a spark to the team coming off the bench.

In the first three seasons, Pritchard averaged 43/40/89 shooting splits with 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game. And during the last three seasons, Pritchard’s role changed and he evolved into a do-it-all player for Boston, becoming more of a playmaker on both ends of the court.

In the last three seasons, Pritchard averaged 47/39/86 shooting splits with 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He also earned NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for 2024-25 and played in 241 games in the regular season and 37 in the playoffs during that span.

This season, the Celtics are expecting Pritchard to take another leap, one that is similar to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, according to Tom Haberstroh of Yahoo Sports.

“The Celtics trading [Jaylen] Brown is a better that [Payton] Pritchard is their in-house version of New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, a diminutive player who didn’t fully show his talents until Luka Doncic was out of the picture.”

Pritchard has been able to thrive in any situation that the Celtics put him in. This season will be no different.

Baylor Scheierman

Scheierman quickly emerged as one of the Celtics’ top young players, and depending on what reporting you’re following, Celtics GM Brad Stevens didn’t want to include Scheierman in the potential trade negotiations for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In two years, Scheierman has played in 108 games in the regular season and 11 in the playoffs. He’s coming off his second season, averaging 42.3% from the field and 38.1% from behind the arc.

On the defensive end, he plays with complete effort and always finishes strong. He’s an underrated defender who’s been in Boston’s top four defensive ratings in his first two seasons.

Scheierman’s role is expected to increase heading into his third season, as Boston will need him to continue his development and be one of the top contributors this season.

Hugo Gonzalez

After a strong rookie season, Gonzalez is shining in the FIBA World Cup for Spain while building momentum for his second season with the Celtics. Last season, he played in 74 games, averaging 47.6% shooting from the field and 36.2% from behind the arc.

What the Celtics need from Gonzalez is for him to play great defense and make plays from the wing. He’s a fine scorer, but that’s not what Boston needs first from him when he’s on the court. It’s his overall style and ability to play the margins well to give the team whatever it needs in the game.

It’s only been one year in the NBA, but Gonzalez has been a pro for four years, making his debut with Real Madrid in 2022. He was only 16-years-old and became the fourth-youngest player for Real Madrid to debut in the ACB.

In his most recent game for Spain, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was in attendance and watched his player score 16-points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 on 3-pointers. He also grabbed five rebounds, made five assists, had two steals and a block in 20 minutes on the court.

Gonzalez showed the Celtics head coach exactly how he’ll be able to help his team next season.

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