Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: where are they now?

By Brandon Jefferson

TORONTO, ON - MAY 7: Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reaches in on Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43). Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in1st half action of Round 2, Game 5 of NBA playoff play at Scotiabank Arena. Raptors win 125-89 and now lead series 3-2. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 7: Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reaches in on Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43). Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in1st half action of Round 2, Game 5 of NBA playoff play at Scotiabank Arena. Raptors win 125-89 and now lead series 3-2. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 23: Taurean Prince speaks with press after being selected twelfth overall by the during the 2016 NBA Draft on June 23, 2016 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Amanda Westcott /NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 23: Taurean Prince speaks with press after being selected twelfth overall by the during the 2016 NBA Draft on June 23, 2016 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Amanda Westcott /NBAE via Getty Images) /

12. Taurean Prince, Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz also decided they would move their lottery pick in a draft-night deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Eager to upgrade their point guard position and with no home-run prospects left on the board, the Jazz used the 12th-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft to broker a three-team trade with the Hawks and Indiana Pacers. The Jazz sent the pick to Atlanta and got George Hill from Indiana. Indiana sent Hill out and received Jeff Teague from Atlanta. The Hawks would send Teague to the Pacers and receive the rights to Taurean Prince who was taken with the 12th pick.

Prince was the rare four-year college player who was taken in the lottery of an NBA draft. Never a true standout as a star during his time at Baylor, Prince was a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. The best attribute he brought to the NBA was his ability to shoot from the perimeter. For his career, Prince shot 37.6 percent on three-pointers, including a season as a junior where he connected on 39.5 percent of his three-pointers on 4.6 attempts per game. Prince was also an above average rebounder for his position, pulling down 5.6 and 6.1 rebounds per game in his last two seasons respectively.

The Hawks were two years removed from their improbable 60-win season and had already seen several of the key members of that 2014-15 team move on elsewhere (Teague, Kyle Korver, and DeMarre Carroll) but Budenholzer was able to keep Atlanta in the playoff race in Prince’s rookie year. Prince provided depth on the wing off the bench and played in 59 total games his first season. Given what he did at Baylor, shooting 32.4 percent on three-pointers in year one was certainly a letdown.

Over the next two seasons with the Hawks, Prince would become more comfortable and a more vital piece to what Atlanta was trying to build. Last season was a roller coaster for Prince as he adjusted to a new head coach, Lloyd Pierce, and constantly battled nagging injuries. He played a career-worst 55 games in 2018-19. Ultimately, the Hawks would send Prince to the Brooklyn Nets a month ago and he would be on his way to getting a fresh start in the NBA.

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