29 June 2023 , 16:56
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NBA star experienced the brutal reality of professional sport in the modern age on Wednesday, learning he had lost his job with the Minnesota Timberwolves via social media.
The 29-year-old had one year left on his deal with the Timberwolves, but he was alerted to the fact he had been cut by ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, with the franchise declining to guarantee his $7.4million (£5.86m) contract for the 2023/24 season.
Prince, who has averaged more than 10 points per game and has been an effective role player in his seven-year NBA career, was stunned in his response.
"Sheesh, appreciate the heads up Woj," he tweeted in response, indicating it was the first the wing had heard of his exit from Minneapolis.
Prince could still return to the Timberwolves on a lower salary, but that seems like a long shot given the apparent lack of communication from the team over his contract situation.
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Prince was drafted 12th overall by the Utah Jazz in 2016 before his rights were traded to the Atlanta Hawks a month later. After a stint in the NBA Development League, he got his chance in the Hawks rotation as an 82-game starter until being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.
Stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Timberwolves have followed. He played 22 minutes per game for Minnesota in 2022/23, averaging nine points a night, shooting a respectable 38 per cent from beyond the arc.
Taurean Prince learned of his release from the Timberwolves from a tweet from insider Adrian Wojnarowski. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)His best night in a Timberwolves jersey came at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks in March, plundering 35 points and going eight-for-eight on three-point attempts in a 140-134 victory. That was the only night all season he passed the 20-point mark.
In the postseason, he averaged 20 minutes and eight points per game as the Timberwolves were eliminated in the first round by eventual champions the Denver Nuggets.
Prince appears to have been a victim of the salary cap and Anthony Edwards' imminent big-money extension. While the Timberwolves have almost $16m (£12.67m) in luxury tax space, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns are slated to earn $41m (£32.48m) and $36m (£28.52m) next season.
And with shooting guard Edwards averaging almost 25 points per game last season, the 21-year-old is sure to command a hefty salary with negotiations ongoing.
Prince has paid the price as a result, being deemed expendable by the Timberwolves. That's the business of the NBA, but he certainly would have appreciated a heads-up from the franchise.