Free agency has started across the NBA, and the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to run it back as much as possible while making at least one addition that will get them closer to another world championship.
One need they have had for a while is at least one true 3-and-D wing. They traded for forwards Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt at midseason, which helped improve their depth at the forward positions and sparked their turnaround.
While Hachimura is a capable scorer and Vanderbilt is a defensive ace, neither is a great 3-point shooter. Although Hachimura has shown some promise guarding big men, he isn’t particularly effective guarding wings.
On Friday, the Lakers agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with forward Taurean Prince, who could help fill that hole.
Free agent F Taurean Prince has agreed to a 1-year, $4.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agents Steven Heumann and Richie Beda of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
Prince, 29, stands 6-foot-7 and has a wingspan of nearly seven feet. He spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and this season he averaged 9.1 points in 22.1 minutes per game while shooting 46.7% overall and 38.1% from 3-point range.