MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 19 (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
As they showed throughout their 2021 title run, small ball is arguably the biggest weapon that the Milwaukee Bucks have at their disposal.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo is operating at the center position, Milwaukee is oftentimes at their most dangerous because of the versatility on the court. However, that small ball approach was not as impactful for the Bucks this past season, primarily due to PJ Tucker’s absence. Tucker proved to be the perfect small ball four for the Bucks throughout their championship-winning campaign, but they foolishly decided to let him walk in free agency, which left the team in need of a replacement. They soon signed the hulking Semi Ojeleye to fill the role, but that backfired quickly as the forward never found his footing with the team and was dealt away at the trade deadline.
Milwaukee’s lack of a small ball power forward was not the sole reason for their downfall this past season, but it was a noticeable flaw in their playoff roster. Given just how formidable the Bucks go to their smaller lineups, bringing aboard a small ball forward needs to be among their top priorities this offseason. To patch up this flaw ahead of next season, here are three small ball fours for the Bucks to target this coming offseason via free agency or trade.
The Milwaukee Bucks should target Taurean Prince this offseason
Though he is far from the flashiest name, Taurean Prince could be an underrated small ball target for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 6-foot-7 forward is an incredibly versatile player on the defensive end, utilizing his hefty build and lengthy wingspan to defend an array of positions. Prince would immediately make the Bucks a more formidable team on that side of the ball, giving them a quality defender to add alongside the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and several others. In addition to his defense, Prince is capable of providing a boost offensively, having averaged 10.5 points per game while shooting a serviceable 37.1 percent from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts for his career. With scoring, shooting, and defense like that, Prince would be a great small ball power forward for this team, as he would sharpen their efforts on both sides of the ball while bringing some much-needed versatility.
Following a solid year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, it is unclear what Prince may command on the open market as he prepares to enter free agency. There will be several other contenders in the exact same boat as the Bucks looking to add a small ball forward that will likely chase Prince, but Milwaukee may have one advantage over them in head coach Mike Budenholzer, who has ties to the forward from their days with the Atlanta Hawks. Prince had the best season of his career under Budenholzer in 2017-18, and perhaps reuniting with the two-time Coach of the Year may be enticing for the 28-year-old. That is just speculation, but the Bucks should look to reunite the pair regardless, as Prince would be a seamless fit on this team.
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