The Los Angeles Lakers’ fan base expressed frustration last season with head coach Darvin Ham for consistently playing Taurean Prince. Despite the Lakers being outscored by 2.7 points per 100 possessions when Prince was on the court, Ham continued to start him for 49 games and give him significant minutes. However, Ham has now left the Lakers to join Doc Rivers’ staff in Milwaukee, and Prince has agreed to a contract with the Bucks, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
During his time with the Lakers, Prince averaged 8.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 39.6 percent from the three-point line. He is expected to play a significant role in the Bucks’ frontcourt. Milwaukee, who had a quiet offseason initially, has made some moves in the last 24 hours, including deals with Prince and veteran wing Delon Wright, who previously played for Miami.
Both Prince and Wright signed veteran minimum deals with the Bucks. Despite Lakers fans finding humor in Prince’s departure, his signing is considered a great addition for Milwaukee. In a bench role playing roughly 20 minutes a night, Prince provides valuable scoring and shooting, which the Bucks can benefit from. Similarly, Wright is a versatile guard who shot 36.8% from three last season and is known for his defensive abilities. His presence could be crucial in matchups against top guards from other teams.
Milwaukee may not have made any significant splashes in free agency, but they are banking on the second year of the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard partnership, along with the addition of experienced role players like Prince and Wright, to elevate them back into the top tier of the Eastern Conference. With only one experienced coach from the start and hopes for good health, the Bucks are optimistic about their chances moving forward.