Last season, Lakers fans were notably frustrated with Darvin Ham’s reliance on Taurean Prince, despite the team being outscored by 2.7 points per 100 possessions when Prince was on the court. Despite this, Ham persisted in starting Prince for 49 games and giving him significant minutes. Now, Ham is leaving the Lakers to rejoin Doc Rivers’ coaching staff in Milwaukee.
Joining Ham in Milwaukee is Taurean Prince, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, who has agreed to a contract with the Bucks. Milwaukee, which had a relatively quiet offseason until now, also finalized a deal with veteran wing Delon Wright, who played last season with Miami.
Both signings are at veteran minimum contracts, reflecting Milwaukee’s current salary cap situation. While Lakers fans may have had reservations about Prince, his addition to the Bucks is viewed as highly positive. Expected to play around 20 minutes per game off the bench, Prince is considered a valuable acquisition, averaging 8.9 points per game last season with a 39.6% shooting accuracy from three-point rangeāa factor that contributed to his consistent use by Ham, who valued his floor spacing.
Similarly, Wright brings solid attributes to the Bucks as a rotational combo guard, shooting 36.8% from three last season and renowned for his defensive prowess, particularly in disrupting passes. His role within the rotation is yet to be determined, but he could prove instrumental in crucial moments against top-notch guards, supported by the defensive presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.
While Milwaukee has not made headline-grabbing moves, their strategy appears to be building on the partnership between Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in their second year, bolstered by consistent coaching and hopefully improved health. Key to their success will be dependable role players like Prince and Wright, who are expected to contribute significantly.