A quick look at the trade value for Taurean Prince in the final year of his Atlanta Hawks contract in relation to the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Atlanta Hawks will have an interesting decision this offseason regarding Taurean Prince, who will be going into his fourth season in the NBA in 2019-20 and is eligible for a rookie extension this offseason. Of course, the Hawks already picked up his fourth-year rookie option for next season, but what could be next for Prince? According to a recent piece by Chris Kirchsner of The Athletic, Prince could be on the trading block for the right package of 2019 NBA Draft picks.
There’s no question that Prince’s skill set would mesh well with various offensively challenged playoff teams that needed a smidge more shot creation and three-point shooting in a defensively versatile wing body. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers come to mind on that front.
Also, per Kirschner’s story, Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk was cagey about Prince’s future with the team – not providing an obvious vote of approval for the 6-foot-8 forward:
“He fits that identity with how we want to play with his ability to shoot the ball,” Schlenk said in Kirschner’s story. “I’ve stated this many times, and I honestly believe this, he’s one of the best spot-up shooters in the NBA. That’s what every team is looking for, so I have no problem with Taurean as a player, and I can see him being a part of this team.”
Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
So what could Prince’s value be ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft? It seems reasonable to expect a 2019 first round pick to be on the board as well as, potentially, another protected first rounder in the future – depending on how desperate teams like the Thunder, Jazz or 76ers are for shooting.
Would any of those three teams be willing to part with their 2019 NBA Draft pick in any transaction with the Atlanta Hawks revolving around Prince? The Hawks certainly hope so, and it certainly seems like a reasonable trade in a vacuum. Only time will tell what Prince’s value is around the league ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft.