Injuries have played havoc with the Milwaukee Bucks’ season in the early going. While Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely out for three more weeks with a calf sprain, it appears that the Bucks have re-signed Taurean Prince, who will not play again this season.
Prince has been sidelined since early November due to a herniated disc in his neck. He underwent surgery to fix the issue on November 13 and has been listed out indefinitely since the early diagnosis. However, after perhaps holding out hope that the 31-year-old could return, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm is now reporting that the Bucks have resigned to the fact that he may not return.
“Per league sources, the Bucks have applied for a Disabled Player Exception (DPE) for Taurean Prince,” Nehm mid-afternoon yesterday.
Bucks Likely Lose Veteran Forward For Year, Plus Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis Injury News
It is important to note that the NBA has yet to approve the DPE, which would be worth $1,651,887 or half of Prince’s salary cap hit. Nehm said that to be approved for a DPE,” an NBA-designated physician (or a Fitness-to-Play panel) would need to determine that it is ‘substantially more likely than not’ that [Prince] will be unable to play through June 15.”
Prince has played only eight games this year in a reserve capacity after starting 73 games last season. He averaged 6.1 points and 1.5 threes while shooting 44.6% from the field and 42.9% from the 3-point line in 21 minutes of action. The 6-6 forward signed a two-year, $7.1 million deal this summer, with next season being a player option.
While Prince has come off the bench this year, he is an integral part of the Bucks’ rotation. The reliable and versatile veteran is a capable floor spacer who can hold his own defensively. He is very physical and strong off the ball. Moreover, the Bucks are 5-3 when Prince has played and 6-13 without him.
What does it mean if the Bucks are granted the DPE? Even though Prince’s DPE isn’t worth much, it will provide the Bucks cap flexibility, especially if they choose to make a play to improve the roster, as has been rumored. The Bucks are currently over $11 million below the tax line.
The DPE, which can be used to trade for a player with an expiring contract or to sign a free agent, could be the difference between the Bucks acquiring a particular player and not. The Bucks don’t have many players with big salaries, which can be a hindrance if they decide to star hunt.
Zach LaVine Out For At Least A Week
Zach LaVine has a moderate sprained ankle and will be reevaluated in one week, per Sean Cunningham of KCRA News in Sacramento. LaVine injured his ankle in the Kings’ 117-103 loss to the Timberwolves on Sunday.
Losing LaVine is another blow to what has been a disastrous season for Sacramento. The Kings are tied with the Clippers for 13th place in the Western Conference, with just six wins, and have lost six of their last seven. They have won back-to-back games just once and have the second-worst scoring margin in the league (-11.6). Fourteen of their 20 losses have been by double figures.
LaVine, who has been mentioned as a trade candidate, has played relatively well. The 30-year-old averages 20.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He also has knocked down 2.7 threes a game while compiling shooting splits of 46.7/38.5/86.7. Additionally, he has scored 20 or more points in 11 of his 23 games with six 30-point games and one 40-point effort. However, he has struggled as a playmaker, totaling nearly as many turnovers (51) as assists (52).
With the timeline, LaVine will sit out the Kings’ next four games. Sacramento is in Portland on Thursday, then hosts the Trail Blazers on Saturday. He will also miss the Kings’ home contests against the Rockets (Sunday) and Pistons (Tuesday). His first opportunity to return will likely be on Dec. 27 against the Mavericks.
When Will Domantas Sabonis Return
Rookie Nique Clifford figures to replace LaVine in Doug Christie’s starting unit. Clifford replaced LaVine to start the second half of the Timberwolves game. He also started last Thursday’s contest when LaVine was dealing with a thumb injury.
Clifford is a versatile two-way wing who has shown flashes of his potential but has struggled with efficiency. Known for his defense, the No. 24 pick this past year is a good rebounder and has shown some ability as a passer. He is still working on creating off the dribble.
While LaVine will be out, Domantas Sabonis could be close to returning. Sabonis has been sidelined since November 16 with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. Sabonis is expected to be reevaluated in the coming days, though Cunningham said he wasn’t at practice on Tuesday.
Kings Struggles with Sabonis Sidelined
With Sabonis out, Christie has basically used a center-by-committee approach. Chrsitie has given starts to Drew Eubanks, Precious Achiewu, and Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud has started the last four contests and has played well, totaling one double-double and three double-digit scoring games. Overall, the 22-year-old rookie averages 8.5 points, on 52.7% shooting from the field, and 4.7 rebounds in 19 minutes on the season.
The Kings are 4-11 without Sabonis in the lineup, including 3-9 during this recent stretch of games. More problematic is that the Kings have really struggled offensively without their big man, as Sabonis is really the Kings’ lone interior offensive threat, and Christie runs much of his offense through him. They have also been worse defensively without Sabonis, as they struggle to defend the paint and keep opponents off the offensive glass.
Until Sabonis returns, the Kings will be shorthanded up front. Expect Reynaud to continue starting with Achiuwa being the primary backup as Eubanks is sidelined with a left thumb fracture. Dario Saric and Dylan Caldwell are other options for the Kings.
© Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images
The post Bucks Likely Loses Veteran Forward For Year, Plus Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis Injury News appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.