Atlanta Hawks: Prince to miss Summer League opener
After recently acquiring draft rights to Taurean Prince, it has been reported that he will not play for the Atlanta Hawks in the Summer League opener. When can Hawks fans expect to see Prince on the court?
Just one day ago, the Atlanta Hawks officially acquired draft rights to their 12th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Taurean Prince. The deal became official on Thursday, following the end of the NBA moratorium period.
The Hawks acquired Prince in a three-team trade from the Utah Jazz, which sent Atlanta’s Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers and gave the Jazz George Hill.
VIA NBA.com
"Prince, a four-year letterman at Baylor, averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 34 games as a senior while garnering First Team All-Big 12 honors. The 6’8 forward was also named Second Team All-Big 12 as junior as well as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year after recording 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists in 33 contests. Prince owns career averages of 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting .460 from the field, .376 from three-point range and .718 from the free throw line in 129 games."
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It came as a bit of a surprise when Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the news this evening that Prince’s professional debut with the Atlanta Hawks has been put on hold.
According to Vivlamore,
"The first-round draft pick still is not a Hawk — technically.The three-team trade that sent the draft rights to Prince, the No. 12 pick in last month’s NBA Draft, from the Jazz to the Hawks is still not official pending physicals and league approval. Jeff Teague went to the Pacers, and George Hill went to the Jazz in that deal.Since the deal is not complete and Prince has been unable to practice with the Hawks’ entry in the Las Vegas Summer League, he will be held out until the process is complete."
The Atlanta Hawks’ summer league opener takes place this Friday night against the Houston Rockets. Next, they will play the Washington Wizards on Sunday, followed by the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
Since Prince’s deal was finalized on Thursday, he now has to wait for “league approval” before he can make his debut. The problem is, that could take a few days.
Next: Atlanta Hawks: Bazemore thanks fans and Atlanta
The system seems flawed. Why have a developmental league if the rookie players that were traded upon can’t participate in it? Why would the league not make them eligible in time? Really. What would be wrong with pushing the league back two weeks so that it includes all rookies? Will Prince see any playing time with the Atlanta Hawks in these upcoming summer league games? Stay tuned.