Legally, the Milwaukee Bucks could trade Taurean Prince this coming season. This comes following the forward waiving his implied no-trade clause, as reported by Spotrac's Keith Smith. The choice gives the Milwaukee Bucks another tradeable contract that could help them land an impact piece down the line if they are on the hunt for roster help.
Bucks can trade Prince if they desire (Maybe they won't)
Why would Prince do this? Smith notes that this is because the forward signed a two-year contract with a player option in the second year, and the team would lose his Early Bird rights if he were traded or opted out of the deal. No matter the case, the Milwaukee Bucks now have some added flexibility in their back pocket.
With a $3.3 million salary for next season, trading Prince alone won't net Milwaukee a needle-mover, in all likelihood. However, paired with someone like Kyle Kuzma, who has a much larger salary, there could be a big-name player out there whose salary could match that of Prince and Kuzma. Getting out of the second apron was such a priority for Milwaukee due to scenarios like this.
Of course, trading Taurean Prince isn't a foregone conclusion yet. As things stand, he is the only small forward on the Milwaukee Bucks roster with prominent NBA experience, though it sounds like there is a chance more might be on the way. Yet, Milwaukee certainly needs bodies at the three, and Prince has experience with this group of players and was a fine piece last season.
Ultimately, no matter how well he plays during the regular season, Prince cannot be judged until the playoffs roll around. The veteran forward was great in last year's regular season, shooting shooting 43.9 percent on his 3-point tries, but in the postseason, that dipped down to 22.2 percent. The Bucks need playoff performers, not droppers.
An underrated storyline to follow this season will be Chris Livingston, who just re-signed. If he finally earns an opportunity and takes advantage, it could spell trouble for Prince, especially with the Bucks making it clear how necessary youth is to what they are building. As it stands, these are the only two legitimate small forwards on the roster, which could spark some competition.
The Milwaukee Bucks don't have to make a decision now. They can take things now, but it will be nice to know that they now have this option at their disposal.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.