The Atlanta Hawks will be without Taurean Prince for at least three weeks after the swingman was diagnosed with a myriad of health issues.
According to Kevin Chouinard of the Hawks' official site, an MRI on Taurean Prince revealed various problems on his left ankle.
“Hawks say Taurean Prince’s MRI revealed a ligament sprain, bone bruise and associated soft tissue inflammation. He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks and his status will be updated as appropriate.”
Prince has been a mainstay for head coach Lloyd Pierce. The 24-year-old forward is averaging a career-high 15.0 points per game to go along with 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He can do a little bit of everything for the Hawks, and his versatility as a swingman has made him an integral part of Atlanta's rotation.
Despite Prince's strong season, the Hawks are cellar dwellers this year with more hope to land Zion Williamson than make a legitimate run at the playoffs. At 5-19, they are only ahead of the Phoenix Suns in the standings.
In the past, having one of the worst records in the league almost guaranteed a top pick in the lottery. However, things have changed dramatically this year, as the NBA changed the lottery odds so even the team with the ninth-worst record in the league has around a 20 percent chance to secure a top-three pick.
Wherever the Hawks end up in the lottery, Prince appears to be part of the long-term plans in Atlanta. He's under contract through the 2019-20 season and his steady improvement through the years bodes well for his future with the franchise.
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