Taurean Prince to miss NBA restart after testing positive for COVID-19
Adrian Wojnarowski: Brooklyn Nets forward Taurean Prince has tested positive for the coronavirus and will sit out the NBA’s restart in Orlando, sources tell ESPN.
Taurean Prince Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 03/22/94
Height: 6-7 / 2.01
Weight:220 lbs. / 99.8 kg.
Salary: $3,481,985
Born: 03/22/94
Height: 6-7 / 2.01
Weight:220 lbs. / 99.8 kg.
Salary: $3,481,985
Adrian Wojnarowski: Prince is the fourth Nets player – including DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Wilson Chandler – to opt-out of the league’s restart. Nets are eligible to sign four substitute players. Team departed this evening for Orlando.
Anthony Puccio: With Wilson Chandler opting out, we might have seen the last of him in a Nets uniform. Until then, Nets are extremely thin at the PF spot entering Orlando. Taurean Prince started the 4 most of the year. Rodions Kurucs was an afterthought. Opportunity for both.
Nets not keeping Theo Pinson?
Pinson’s shooting (29 percent), 3-point percentage (18.8) and offensive rating (81) all took steps back from his rookie season. His offensive rating was the worst in the NBA for players who topped 20 appearances on Basketball Reference. Even if he isn’t a roster casualty, or if the season doesn’t resume, Pinson could find himself on the move in the offseason. He was mentioned by Bleacher Report as a part of a potential package (along with Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince and a first-round pick) to try to land Kings sharp-shooter Buddy Hield.
Alex Schiffer: Kenny Atkinson shakes up the starting lineup ahead of the Spurs. Wilson Chandler starting over Taurean Prince. He joins Dinwiddie, Allen, Harris and LeVert.
The Raptors ended up being an early signal of the coming shift as Masai Ujiri negotiated extensions with both Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam. Ujiri willingly conceding spending power, albeit to retain two pivotal members of their championship team, helped clarify how little many front offices cared about maximizing 2020 cap space. It was unsurprising to see less flexible front offices like the 76ers (Ben Simmons) and Nets (Caris LeVert and Taurean Prince) lock up young players ahead of restricted free agency, but a group of teams that includes the Raptors, Grizzlies (Dillon Brooks) and Kings (Buddy Hield) deliberately gave up cap space, and that meaningfully reduced the league-wide spending power this summer.
League sources say the Rockets offered Capela to the Nets for a package that included Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, which Brooklyn declined. The Celtics have a top-six-protected first from the Grizzlies that will become unprotected next year that they could dangle in a trade—but considering Memphis is currently eighth in the West, that pick is likely to convey this season—as well as rookie wing Romeo Langford. The Hawks remain the most likely destination for Capela, which would lead to a whole different set of possibilities.
The Nets are almost certainly not dealing LeVert, Dinwiddie, or Jarrett Allen for a package centered on picks, sources say. That wouldn’t make sense with Irving and Durant on board. Irving’s knee injury is also a last-minute monkey wrench. LeVert suitors would be subject to what is effectively a poison pill because of his contract extension that kicks in next season. Ditto for Taurean Prince.
“I’m not liking what I see with Rodi’s development. And that’s where, he was a huge part for what I saw of the future. (Taurean) Prince kind of took a little bit of that. And then, I’m glad they started Jarrett Allen there because his growth for them next year is crucial for them. “….They knew Durant wasn’t going to play this year. So development (of young players) is still crucial (this season).
After Prince’s parents, Anthony and Tamiyko, split and he chose to live with his father, they found themselves living in a Salvation Army when they could, or on friends’ sofas, or even a couple of days on the street. He was 12. But the experience toughened Prince without hardening him, strengthening his spirit without making it sullen. And it made him appreciate the two-year, $29 million deal he signed last month with the Nets even more. “Yeah, 100 percent,” Prince, 25, told The Post. “I try not to dwell on things like that. I never allowed my past to affect how I thought moving forward or how I carry myself or made any excuses. “Everybody has their story, whether it’s as treacherous as mine was or as easy as theirs might have been. Everybody grows in different ways throughout different situations, and I’m just happy I was able to come out on the brighter side of that and be able to make a way for my family and my kids.”
Doors closed at 10 p.m., and if Prince came back late from basketball — his father would step out to wait for him — sometimes the staff would let them in. Sometimes not. Then they’d have to stay with friends, or even on the street. That’s why Prince said “The Pursuit of Happyness” — Will Smith’s acclaimed biopic about a homeless father and son — was like an echo of his childhood, writing in the Players Tribune: “It always gave me a lot of comfort to rewatch it over the years, like it was talking right to me.”
Anthony Puccio: Final: Nets 123, Rockets 116. Great team win for Brooklyn. Five players in double figures, led by Taurean Prince (27 points). They held James Harden to 10/31 shooting, 2/16 from 3. Rockets shot 12/48 from 3. Nets are now 2-3 with a game at Detroit tomorrow.
Another nerdy extension provision is this gem in Taurean Prince’s deal with Brooklyn: He will receive exactly $334,375 if the Nets post a Defensive Rating below 105 in his minutes. (Nobody tell him, but no team in the league had a Defensive Rating below 105 last season).
Finally, geeks will also enjoy another Prince provision, stating he must attempt at least 7.6 3-point attempts per 36 minutes and shoot better than 41.5 percent on 3s to cash in on another $334,375. The insistence on shot attempts is likely a reaction to the end of Moe Harkless’s 2016-17 season, when he stopped shooting 3s late in the season because he had locked up a $500k incentive-based solely on his percentage.
Bobby Marks: Here is the final tally of bonuses (likely/unlikely) in signed rookie extensions for today: * J. Brown- $12M * T. Prince- $3.7M * D. Sabonis- $10.4M * B. Hield- $20M * D. Murray- $6M
Brian Lewis: Kenny Atkinson on #Nets extending Taurean Prince: “But sometimes you’ve got to bet on people and bet on humanity and bet on a player and that’s what we did. I’m thrilled.” #NBA
Brian Lewis: Kenny Atkinson on #Nets extending Taurean Prince: “That’s an early call. On his part too, right? So he’s got to make the commitment to our organization, we’ve got to make a commitment without actually playing a regular season game…”
Taurean Prince: Goes to show you how great this organization is more so than how good of a player I am. They’ve embraced my family and I from Day 1. I could be anywhere but God brought me here for a reason and that’s to help WIN! & to WIN you must sacrifice.
Bobby Marks: Brooklyn now with a projected $135M in salary in 2020-21 after the Taurean Prince extension. That figure could increase to north of $145M when you factor in possibly 2 first-round picks and the team/non-guaranteed contracts of Theo Pinson, Garrett Temple and David Nwaba.
Nets extend Taurean Prince
Adrian Wojnarowski: Brooklyn Nets F Taurean Prince has agreed to a two-year, $29M contract extension, CAA Sports’ Steve Heumann tells ESPN.
Now the Nets have a tough call to make over the next few days: Whether to lock the 25-year-old forward up with an extension, or risk letting him hit restricted free agency next summer. Prince told The Post he hopes it’s the former. “I want to be here as long as I can. And whatever happens, happens, but I’m just happy to play good basketball,” Prince told The Post. “One hundred percent, yeah. For sure. This is the best organization I’ve been in. “Top to bottom, from [general manager] Sean [Marks] all the way to the cooks to the janitors, [everybody’s] involved in welcoming as far as family. I can 100 percent be myself here. That goes a long way as far as players, because it makes your job a lot easier on the court.”
Billy Reinhardt: Sean Marks joins Spencer Dinwiddie as those that have pinpointed Taurean Prince as the player that’s most likely to take a leap this season based on offseason workouts.
Taurean Prince: Get right brodie 🤞🏾🎯@Trae Young
The Atlanta Hawks have acquired guard Allen Crabbe, a conditional 2020 first-round pick and the draft rights to guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the 17th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round pick, it was announced today. “Allen is a proven veteran in this league and adds another three-point threat on the wing for us. We’re happy to welcome him to the Hawks,” said Hawks General Manager and Head of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk.
2w
Nets Daily: From @BobbyMarks42 re: @taureanprince on @ryenarussillo podcast: “They like Taurean Prince a lot. They really do. I think he’ll fit probably at the 4 for Kenny Atkinson. He can replace DeMarre Carroll there.” Note days before deal, Nets hired Jeff Peterson, Hawks assistant GM.
Zach Lowe: If this pick falls in the protected range in 2020, Atlanta get the Nets lottery protected 1st in 2021, sources say. Same drill for 2022. After that, it converts to two second rounders.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta had been motivated to keep No. 8 and use 10 to trade back for a future asset, league sources tell ESPN. Now, Nos. 8, 10, 17, 35, 41 and 44 give the Hawks the flexibility to move up — perhaps as high as Cleveland’s pick at No. 5. Hawks GM Travis Schlenk has options.
Jeremy Woo: Minor note on BKN/ATL deal: the 2021 second-rounder going back to the Nets from the Hawks is unprotected, per source. Could end up on the more valuable end of second-round spectrum, in theory.
The Nets are sending Crabbe, the No. 17 pick in the 2019 NBA draft and a 2020 lottery protected first-round pick to the Hawks for forward Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round pick, league sources said. The deal can’t be finalized until July 6.
Bobby Marks: The Atlanta/Brooklyn trade could be broken down into two separate transactions: 1. Taurean Prince for no. 17 2. Allen Crabbe for 2020 1st-round pick (lottery protected)
Boston guard Kyrie Irving — who is expected to become a free agent – and Brooklyn have a strong mutual interest, league sources tell ESPN. The Nets have $46 million in salary-cap space to sign two maximum contract free agents, which would include Brooklyn’s dream scenario of luring Irving and Golden State’s Kevin Durant to the franchise, league sources said.
Greg Logan: NBA source has confirmed to @NewsdaySports that details of #Nets trade with #Hawks as reported by @Adrian Wojnarowski are accurate. Allen Crabbe and No. 17 pick this year, protected No. 1 in 2020 for Taurean Prince and 2021 second round pick. Now have $46 million cap space.
Nets trade Allen Crabbe, No. 17 pick to Hawks
Adrian Wojnarowski: Brooklyn is trading Allen Crabbe and No. 17 pick in 2019 NBA Draft and protected first in 2020 to Atlanta for Taurean Prince and 2021 second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.
Bobby Marks: Brooklyn trade cannot be completed until July 6 when Atlanta will have cap space to absorb the $18.5M Allen Crabbe contract. The Hawks are currently over the cap.
