A few months ago, the 2025-26 season appeared to be all but over for Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince. He underwent neck surgery in November, hadn't played since, and the team applied for a Disabled Player Exception. So long until next year, or so it seemed.
Prince quietly returned in March. Somewhat shockingly, he has been one of the Bucks' most consistent contributors of late. So far in April, he is averaging 17.2 points per game.
Prince is playing so well, in fact, that it's no longer safe to assume he will exercise his player option next season. Instead of returning to Milwaukee, he could decide to test the open market. There goes one sure thing the Bucks thought they had.
Prince may be shooting his way out of Milwaukee
No one saw this coming. Prince has eclipsed double figures in all five games he's played this month. Most recently, he provided 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a win over Brooklyn. He went 6-for-11 beyond the arc to extend his stretch of red-hot shooting. On over eight attempts per game, he is converting threes at a 58.5 percent clip this month.
Maybe it's just a hot streak, but Prince certainly appears revitalized. He played 35 minutes on Friday night, following up a 37-minute assignment against the Nets earlier this week. The 32-year-old forward has shown that he has plenty of gas in the tank.Â
When Prince was sidelined, it seemed a given that he would be back next season. Other teams would hesitate to hand him a better deal coming off season-ending surgery, without a chance to see him back on the court. A strong finish to the season has materially changed his prospects.Â
Rather than pick up a $3.8 million option for 2026-27, Prince may elect to explore his options in free agency. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is traded, the Bucks will no longer offer the promise of seriously contending (or trying to). Perhaps he could secure another two-year deal elsewhere.
Good for Prince if he gets it.Â
Losing Prince would force Bucks to reassess the rosterÂ
His departure would complicate matters for the Bucks. During his lengthy hiatus this season, they undeniably missed his size and shooting at the wing position. Having Prince available in the rotation was, actually, valuable.Â
If he declines his option, the Bucks will be left with Kyle Kuzma, an offseason trade candidate, as their only small forward option under contract. They should, of course, be keen to re-sign Ousmane Dieng as a restricted free agent, but even then, a weak rotation would remain depleted.Â
What the Bucks can't afford is to repeat the mistake of asking undersized wings like AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. to man the three. For all its appeal in theory, that strategy just didn't work.Â
They could consider giving Prince a new contract. Will he be eager to return, though, if Giannis asks out and the Bucks embark on a rebuild? At more than a cheap one-year commitment, perhaps they wouldn't be interested, either.Â
Before, it didn't seem like the Bucks would have a choice one way or another. If Prince keeps shooting the lights out, though, next season's roster may have an unexpected hole to fill.