The Milwaukee Bucks continued to bolster their roster with the addition of wing Taurean Prince.
With Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley looking set to move on, acquiring a veteran in Prince is a strong move by the Bucks. It is their third move of NBA Free Agency following the signing of Delon Wright to strengthen the backcourt and the addition Stanley Umude on a two-way deal.
Already this off-season, other contending teams have added to their wing positions following the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship. Boston already has Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The New York Knicks had a strong season and showed their intentions by re-signing OG Anunoby and trading for Mikal Bridges. The Philadelphia 76ers recently added Paul George to their roster.
Prince is not the same caliber as those players mentioned, but he has experience and strong numbers both when defending and as a shooter, two things the Bucks needed to add to their wing position to give them a better chance at winning another chip. The 30-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and now, the former 12th overall pick in 2016 will be playing in Milwaukee.
Let's grade the deal.
The financial aspect of Taurean Prince's deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
With the Bucks' financial restrictions, free agency has left them looking for veteran players who can impact the game without costing them more than the minimum. There is yet to be confirmation, but all signs point towards this officially being a veteran's minimum, meaning Prince will earn around the $3 million mark in 2024-25.
For the Bucks, this is a solid deal. Similar to Wright, this is another nine-year veteran joining the team with a skill set that can fulfill the Bucks' needs. In recent years, we have seen the Bucks add players creeping into their late 30s, which has led to them having very little impact on the team and rotations. Wright and Prince both have regularly played every season since they came into the league and are in their primes.
A one-year deal is always a good idea with players like Prince. The Bucks are not tied to him should it not work out, but if it does, it may open the door to him returning for the following season. Crowder is unlikely to return, and Prince coming in as a replacement is a good decision by the Milwaukee Bucks. He may not be as physical as Crowder, but Prince brings the same skills (if not better) and is slightly younger, likely wanting to prove he still deserves a spot in the NBA.
Picking up a veteran wing like Prince is good for the Bucks as they fill out their roster vacancies. On a cheap deal, you still get a dependable player who can be effective on both ends of the floor.