The Pistons didn’t make a splashy addition this offseason, and that leaves a lot of the conversation pointed at internal growth. But there’s another name in the mix who could end up mattering more than his profile suggests: Taurean Prince.
Detroit may not be asking Prince to swing games on his own, but that’s not really the assignment. The value here is simpler and, for this roster, important. He can give the Pistons frontcourt depth and real shooting, the kind of steady contribution that helps win regular-season games and could even tilt a playoff game or two.
That’s the lane Javonte Green occupied last season. Signed in August as a depth forward, Green was easy to overlook at the time.
Questions swirled about whether he’d even have a regular spot in the rotation. Instead, he became the only Piston to appear in all 82 regular-season games, and he delivered exactly what Detroit needed from that role: tenacious defense and 38% shooting from 3-point range on three attempts per game.
Prince brings a different skill set, but the same kind of chance to outperform the label attached to him. He isn’t the same defender Green is, but he’s a proven shooter.
For his career, Prince has hit 39% from deep on 4.5 attempts per game, and he’s been above 43% in each of the last two seasons with the Bucks. That kind of perimeter reliability should matter for a team still looking for answers after Tobias Harris’ departure left a hole in the frontcourt rotation.
The fit makes sense because Detroit’s bench groups already lean defensive. Green and Ron Holland II are the aggressive wing stoppers in those lineups, which gives Prince some cover. His job is to stretch the floor, keep defenders honest and create more room for teammates to attack.
And there’s a ceiling to what that shooting can do. Prince led the NBA in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage two seasons ago at 49.8%. If he gets anywhere close to that level, it would be a major boost for an offense that can always use more spacing.
That kind of gravity matters beyond Prince himself. If defenders have to stay attached to him on the perimeter, it opens things up for the rest of the roster to create. That’s especially useful for Ron Holland II and Ausar Thompson, but it should help any Piston who handles the ball, including Cade Cunningham.
Prince probably won’t be in the starting five next season, but Detroit doesn’t need him to be. What they need is a dependable veteran who fills a specific need, and he has a real chance to do that. If the Pistons use him right, they could end up with another offseason pickup who makes a bigger difference than anyone expected.