Bucks camp notebook: Key health updates, 'Camp Connect' and Taurean Prince at power forward

After a five-day training camp in Irvine, Calif., the Milwaukee Bucks traveled to Michigan for their preseason opener against the Detroit Pistons .

The Bucks dropped that game and then made their way home to Milwaukee.

Following an off day on Monday, their first since training camp started a week earlier, they returned on Tuesday for their first home practice of the preseason.

Advertisement Here is what you need to know from that session.

Key players health updates The preseason presents a delicate balance for any NBA team.

The reps gained in preseason games get the players ready for regular-season games that count towards the final standings, but any type of full-speed game also brings about a chance of injury.

On Sunday, the Bucks got a scare in Detroit as Gary Trent Jr.

got hit with a nasty screen from Pistons big man Jalen Duren and needed to leave the game in the second quarter with a left elbow hyperextension.

While Trent did not practice Tuesday, the team expects him to return without missing an extended period, potentially even playing in the teams second preseason game on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers .

Hell be fine, coach Doc Rivers said.

Hell probably play on Thursday.

I cant guarantee that, but I think so.

Rivers also talked about the preseason plan for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton , both of whom did not dress for Sundays preseason opener.

Antetokounmpo has not appeared in a Bucks preseason opener since suiting up against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec.

12, 2020, in the pandemic-shortened preseason, but Rivers was not aware of that practice from the organization until this season.

Yeah, I learned that, Rivers said with a smile on Tuesday.

Rivers did, however, say that he expects Antetokounmpo to play against the Lakers on Thursday, and then the team plans to ramp up his minutes in the final two preseason games to get the two-time NBA MVP ready for the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct.

23.

The plans for Middleton were less clear.

I think so, but I dont know that, Rivers said, when asked if Middleton will play during the preseason.

I do think maybe the last two (games), but theres no guarantee there.

Advertisement Last season, while recovering from an offseason clean-up procedure to his right knee, Middleton appeared in just one preseason game, the finale against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct.

20, 2023, and played 12 minutes.

Six days later, in the season opener, Middleton played 16 minutes against the 76ers.

The Bucks have rarely, if ever, publicly laid out their plans for Middletons minutes and usage, so it will remain something to monitor throughout the preseason and regular season.

The successes of Camp Connect Rivers referred to the teams trip to California as Camp Connect, because his biggest goal was getting his players to spend time together and connect as much as possible while being away from their homes and families in the Milwaukee area.

Rivers said he believes the trip was successful.

It worked.

It was phenomenal.

I can tell you that upfront, Rivers said.

Just every night, guys went places.

We brought in a couple of people.

The mentalist, which other than just freaking you out, it was great.

The room was howling.

Giannis had something.

Dame had something where they all went together.

Khris took everybody, a bunch of guys, to Space X.

I mean, they did so many things together that they would have never done together if they were at home.

It was a bigger success than I thought it would be.

On top of the non-basketball outings, there were additional basketball events that likely wouldnt have happened if they were in their home city, including an evening film session with guest coach Rajon Rondo.

GO DEEPER Rajon Rondo comes 'full circle' with mentor Doc Rivers as guest coach at Bucks camp When youre home, guys got wives, kid, like, theyre fathers, They gotta go home and spend time with their kids, Bucks guard Pat Connaughton said.

When youre on the road, sometimes its almost easier to spend time with your teammates and go break bread, have dinner, go bowl, golf, whatever it is, right? Advertisement I think those moments play a role in continuity, chemistry, togetherness, all the things that, personally, I think are undervalued and underrated in the NBA and in professional sports in general.

Creating a better connection and more togetherness has been a big theme Rivers has highlighted this preseason.

While the Bucks will need to go through some difficult times to figure out if that connection has actually improved, the team has found the early signs encouraging thus far.

Taurean Prince at power forward On media day, newcomer Prince made headlines by telling reporters that one of the first things he did after signing with the Bucks was ask the coaching staff for a compilation of video clips of all of the 3-point shots assisted by Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Middleton last season.

His reasoning was those were the shots he would get this season and thus, he needed to start working on those looks by preparing to shoot off the passes they often threw to their teammates.

During a group interview following Tuesdays practice, Prince once again revealed something new about his role this season.

I like learning, Prince said of Rivers installation of new concepts this preseason.

I like being a sponge, so being able to play the 4 again in this offense is kind of new compared to what Ive done the last couple of years, but I think it can serve the team very, very well.

Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Prince spent the majority of his time playing small forward for the first time since he played with the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018-19 season, according to positional estimates from Cleaning the Glass.

After leaving the Hawks following the first three seasons of his career, Prince has primarily played power forward, except for last season with the Lakers.

The Lakers outscored opponents by 1.4 points per 100 possessions in the limited possessions Prince played power forward last season, which was a continuation of the overwhelming trend of Princes career.

Outside of the 2020-21 season, Princes teams have outscored opponents while he has been in lineups that feature him at power forward since leaving the Hawks.

Advertisement The 30-year-old forward told reporters that while his exact role and position on the floor didnt come up all that much as the Bucks tried to convince him to join their team, he expected to play power forward with Milwaukee.

It wasnt a surprise to me.

To be honest, I really dont mind, Prince said.

But like I said (on media day), I wasnt pitched.

It didnt take much to get me here.

I want to win.

Thats all I really care about when it comes to the game of basketball.

Just try to win as many games as possible and get further in the playoffs than I have with any other team.

So with that I know comes sacrifice, whether thats where you live or money or your own personal goals.

So, Ive accepted that and Im here with an open mind.

As he considered how his focus might change in playing more power forward, Prince revealed that the biggest change will be the variety of positions he will find himself at the start of offensive possessions.

Just having a high IQ.

Knowing positioning, knowing where to run the floor, Prince said.

Its easy as a 3, you just run to the corner to start the offense.

Thats where most plays are begun for a 3, in the corner.

But at the four spot, you could be at the top, you could be short corner, you could be corner, you could rim run, you can come right into ball screens.

So its a different game, but with the versatility that I bring to the table, being in that position, I think it could be perfect.

It remains to be seen exactly how Prince will fit into the rotation of bigs as the Bucks have often used a three-man rotation of Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez to cover the minutes at power forward and center over the last four seasons, but it is interesting to hear that Prince is preparing himself to make an impact at the 4 this upcoming season.

(Photo of Gary Trent Jr.: Chris Schwegler / NBAE via Getty Images).

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