The offseason grades series rolls on as we delve into the Atlanta Hawks trading away Taurean Prince to the Brooklyn Nets.
The rumblings surrounding the Atlanta Hawks trading away Taurean Prince had grown to a crescendo when news broke that the team had sent the 25-year-old to the Brooklyn Nets for Allen Crabbe, the #17 overall pick and a lottery-protected 2020 first round pick.
In terms of value, that’s fairly exceptional work for Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk, who took advantage of the Nets knowing they needed to clear cap space for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in order to nab not one but two first round draft picks in an ultimately inconsequential deal.
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Crabbe’s contract expires after next season, and Prince’s future with the Hawks was going nowhere fast. To nab the #17 overall pick, which became Nickeil Alexander-Walker, in addition to a future draft pick was a near-heist for Schlenk.
Of course, that #17 overall pick was eventually sent to the Pelicans in the trade up for #4 overall, but having that one meant the Hawks didn’t have to include the #10 overall pick – which they themselves coveted in order to draft Cam Reddish.
For Prince, the 2018-19 season was unkind to him after he was one of the best players on the entire team during the dark days of 2017-18, which was coach Mike Budenholzer’s last with the squad. Prince had always been a favorite of Bud’s, so when he skedaddled to Milwaukee, it became very apparent that Prince’s days in Atlanta were numbered.
Though he possessed the size, strength and shooting needed of today’s omnipresent three-and-D wings, Prince never really showed much of an effort on the less glamorous end. When he did, he looked like a top-flight wing, but those moments of inspiration were few and far between for the 25-year-old.
Perhaps in a new locale, Prince will pick up his play.
Grade: A
In the end, the Atlanta Hawks gave up little in order to obtain two very attractive draft picks from the Nets, especially since Prince’s time in Atlanta was clearly at an end.
Tune in tomorrow on Soaring Down South for more offseason grades as we gear up for the 2019-20 season for the Atlanta Hawks.