Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are making a big move at the beginning of the 2024 NBA Free Agency. According to Shams Charania, the Bucks intend to sign Taurean Prince, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, to bolster their roster. Prince’s versatile skills could be crucial for Milwaukee as they aim to achieve greater success.
Taurean Prince is gearing up for his tenth season in the NBA. He entered the league with the Atlanta Hawks after being drafted as the 12th pick in the 2016 Draft.
Prince focused on developing his 3-point shooting and perimeter defense early in his career. Before joining the Lakers, he played for the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the 2023-24 season, Prince played 78 games, averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 39.6 percent from beyond the arc in 27 minutes per game. He gained valuable experience playing alongside LeBron James, one of the NBA’s top forwards, which should ease his transition to playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
Milwaukee will rely on Prince to maintain his efficient 3-point shooting and strong perimeter defense. With Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton already on the roster, adding Prince enhances their wing depth.
The potential starting lineup for Milwaukee in the 2024-25 season could feature:
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Khris Middleton
SF: Taurean Prince
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Brook Lopez
The composition of this lineup hinges on any additional moves the Bucks might make in NBA Free Agency. It offers a balanced mix of scoring, defense, and rebounding. Milwaukee aims for strong production from this unit to achieve better results in the postseason.
Taurean Prince’s decision to join Milwaukee comes as somewhat unexpected, considering he expressed a desire to stay with the Lakers at the season’s conclusion. Nonetheless, Prince is expected to make significant contributions to the Bucks.
Milwaukee may still be active in pursuing further moves before the end of the summer, especially with two key players currently surrounded by trade rumors.
According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype in late June, rival executives have indicated that Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton are potentially available on the trade market for Milwaukee if they can secure a significant upgrade aimed at immediate success. Portis, who finished as a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year for the second consecutive year, and Connaughton have been mentioned as trade candidates previously without any deals materializing.
While the Bucks may prefer to retain Portis and Connaughton as valuable depth pieces, the dynamic of NBA Free Agency can change swiftly. Regardless of future moves, Giannis Antetokounmpo is steadfast in his determination to lead his team to a stronger showing in the 2024-25 season.
“After the 2023-24 season, Antetokounmpo expressed gratitude to Milwaukee on social media, acknowledging the season didn’t end as desired but promising a return to form,” stating, “Milwaukee, THANK YOU. This season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but I promise you we will get back to where we belong, and they’re going to give us our damn flowers.”
Despite finishing the 2023-24 season with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. Nevertheless, Milwaukee is committed to making strategic decisions to ensure a more successful postseason run in the upcoming season.
