ATLANTA – Timberwolves forward Tayshaun Prince last summer signed a one-year contract for the NBA veteran’s minimum, a few bucks shy of $1.5 million for the season.
In retrospect, he should have negotiated to be paid by the minute.
Signed for what was an unspecified but presumed limited role, Prince played 38 ½ minutes Saturday because of his defense, but he also quadrupled his previous season scoring high. His eight-point night included a last-minute layup that put away a 102-93 overtime victory at Chicago.
His 38 minutes, 34 seconds Saturday were the most he has played since a February 2014 game when he played for Memphis against New York, and behind only Andrew Wiggins’ 41 minutes, Nemanja Bjelica’s 40 minutes and Ricky Rubio’s 39 in an overtime game the Wolves played without Kevin Martin.