Why the Atlanta Hawks should start Taurean Prince

With the season less than two months away, the Atlanta Hawks should be giving serious consideration to starting rookie Taurean Prince from day one.

In a refreshing change of pace from previous years, the Atlanta Hawks drafted a pair of players that could contribute immediately in 2016-17. Atlanta drafted Baylor forward Taurean Prince with the twelfth overall selection, and then selected DeAndre’ Bembry in the second round. It was assumed that both players would contribute from the bench this year. However, Prince deserves a spot in the starting lineup right away. Here’s why:

Kyle Korver is Declining

Kyle Korver has always been a solid three-point threat. He had the unconscious season in 2014-15 when he shot nearly 50% from behind the arc. But Korver regressed last year. His three-point percentage dropped to 39.8%, his lowest mark since 2008-09 season. Three point shooting has always been his strong suit, so if his ability to shoot declines he loses his value as a player.

At age 35, Korver’s best days would seem to be behind him. The Hawks need to look toward the future and finding a replacement for Korver in the starting lineup. Prince seems to be the perfect man to fill that role. Korver can still be a weapon off the bench, but his place as a starter should be turned over to the young Baylor product.

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Prince has All the Tools to be a Better Two-Way Player than Korver is Now

To put it simply, Prince has the ability to be a better all-around basketball player than Korver. Can he be an effective three-point shooter? Absolutely, as shown by his 37.6% accuracy from behind the arc at Baylor. But Prince’s offensive game is much more than that.

He can also create his own shot and get to the rim, something Korver just can’t do. This versatility on offense makes Prince much more of an offensive threat than his older counterpart. Defensively, Prince possesses the athleticism and quickness to stay with opponents. As we’ve all seen in the playoffs the last two seasons, Korver can be a liability on defense. Prince would at the very least be a slight upgrade, with the potential to develop into a true shutdown defender.

Prince and Kent Bazemore Could Form a Formidable Defensive Duo

It’s no secret that the three-point ball has become extremely prevalent in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors have won two straight Western Conference titles with an offense based on long-range shooting. With this new offensive philosophy, teams are looking more and more for rangy defenders who can lock down shooters on the outside. With Kent Bazemore already on the roster and Prince just entering the league, the Atlanta Hawks have the potential for one of the best perimeter defensive duos in the entire NBA. Both are quick and athletic enough to stay with shooters going around screens, and both are long enough to be able to disrupt passing lanes.

It might take a little more time for Prince to realize his full defensive potential. But there is no question that he and Bazemore could harass shooters for many years to come. Starting Prince this year would go a long way towards starting his development toward that type of defender.

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Conclusion

Taurean Prince needs to be a starter for the Atlanta Hawks from day one. He is already at least as good, if not better, than Kyle Korver, and he has the potential to be a much better all-around player. The Hawks should keep Korver around as a three-point specialist off the bench. But the job of starting small forward for the Atlanta Hawks should go to Prince.