Taurean Prince Says He ‘100%’ Wants New Lakers Contract in 2024 NBA Free Agency

The Los Angeles Lakers have more high-profile decisions to make this offseason with a head-coaching vacancy and LeBron James’ future hanging in the balance, but Taurean Prince would like to run things back in 2024-25.

“My family, the quality of life in Los Angeles is something that myself and my family haven’t had in probably three or four seasons,” the pending free agent told Matthew Valento of Lakers Nation in an interview published Tuesday.

“So to stay here would be definitely number one. If not that, then I mean, wherever the dominoes fall and wherever it’s best, that’s where I’ll be. But I for sure want to be a Laker, 100%.”

Stability has not been a defining trait of Prince’s career to this point, as he has bounced around from the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lakers during his eight seasons in the league.

Los Angeles signed him to a one-year deal ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, and the fit made sense.

After all, he is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and hit from the outside. That meant he could take advantage of the spacing created by playing alongside James and Anthony Davis with that shot on one end all while taking some of the defensive responsibility of the stars’ shoulders on the other.

He ended up being a solid but unspectacular role player who started 49 games and came off the bench for 29 games while averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.7 steals a night.

He shot 44.2 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from deep.

Prince was also notably durable and appeared in 78 games, which was important for a team that dealt with injury problems during an inconsistent season.

Ultimately, the Lakers’ primary focus will be on finding a replacement for the fired Darvin Ham and then bringing James back since the King has a player option for the 2024-25 campaign and could test free agency.

But Prince’s desire to remain in Purple and Gold could lead to something of a hometown discount, which would help the front office maintain financial flexibility as it looks to build a contender in the Western Conference after losing in the first round of the playoffs.