Milwaukee Bucks: Best and Worst of the 2016-17 Season
By Adam Coffman
Best: Snelly Cat
Given the revelation that Tony Snell has been for the Bucks this season, it’s hard to fathom that they wouldn’t have had him if it wasn’t for Khris Middleton‘s hamstring injury.
Acquired just a few days before the season’s start in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams, Snell was essentially a stop-gap measure, meant to fill in for Middleton as a close approximation of his talents for a good bit of the season
Nobody, likely not even John Hammond, saw his new wing asset becoming an essential part of the team to where it’s more than probable the Bucks will pony up the cash to retain him for next year.
Related Story: What does the future hold for Tony Snell?
On the Bulls, Snell had gained a reputation as somewhat of a drifter, proving incapable of taking on any responsibility on offense and performing sporadically on both ends. He was thrown straight into the fire in Milwaukee, replacing an injured fan favorite and team leader in the starting lineup just days after being dealt.
After an initial slow start, Snell picked up his pace in a major way towards the latter half of the season, shooting 42 percent on catch-and-shoot three-pointers. Going from 2.4 attempts per game from deep in his last season with the Bulls to 4.4 with Milwaukee, it’s clear that he focused on his strengths this season.
It’s hard to quantify Snell’s defensive impact – he’s not one to rack up steals or blocks, and his value comes mostly from on-ball defense. However, you can see his footprint in the performances of opponents, such as Russell Westbrook‘s 9-for-28 shooting night in January.
His play at the two-guard allowed the Bucks to deploy their best and most exciting lineup this year, consisting of Brogdon, Snell, Middleton, Giannis, and Maker.
Snell has been a pleasant surprise this year, but you can’t help but wonder how that perception will change if or when he’s given a large contract. With the expectations that come with such a deal, those off nights where he tends to fade into the background might not be as tolerable.
Regardless, Tony Snell was a huge help for the Bucks this season, both as an emergency tarter and later as a proven contributor and trusted talent.