The Lakers have yet to name their starting small forward for Tuesday’s season opener against the Nuggets in Denver. Anthony Davis would be in favor of nominating Taurean Prince.
Davis was quite impressed with Prince’s preseason play after Tuesday’s Lakers practice. The Lakers have been able to rely more heavily on their outside shooting since the veteran 3-and-D player left the season opener after 13 minutes due to foul problems. Prince, who has started all four preseason games and has made 11 of his 20 three-point shots, signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract in July.
I’ve heard that he’s a seasoned fighter. The 29-year-old’s “true professional” approach was lauded by Davis.Superb basketball shooting, practices, and competitions. The Defender puts in his time. He has performed admirably in the hoop. I haven’t made up my mind on who will start yet, but he stands a solid chance.
Prince is up for consideration for the position alongside Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. Hachimura is the highest-paid of the three since he offers the most in terms of attacking diversity and physical stature for his salary. Prince, who shoots 37.2% from outside over the course of his career, makes room for LeBron James and AD and provides solid wing defense. Vanderbilt, the team’s greatest defender and most versatile player, is out with a sore left heel and may miss the season opener.
Darvin Ham “next question”-ed a question about the competition with a bit of humor on Tuesday.
To be determined, I’m afraid. Things can yet unravel in the coming days. Okay, I guess we’ll find out. Evidence can be flimsy at best. (Before the first preseason game of the season, Ham claimed he “definitely” knew who the starting three would be; whether Prince was on the bench from the get-go or whether Vanderbilt’s injury necessitated a change in strategy is unknown.)
“I’m ready for whatever,” Prince said last week. In my professional career, I started the first three or four years before moving to the bench. However, in the last few years, I have started multiple games for each of the teams I have played for. If given the chance, I feel that I can contribute significantly to the team as a starter. Even when I’m fresh off the bench, my responsibilities remain the same.
Hachimura, meanwhile, values playing time late in games above all else.
According to Ham, the Lakers want to use Thursday’s preseason finale against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Springs to play their rotation for at least three quarters, giving us a solid idea of who will start in Denver.