Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for Tony Snell’s four-year, $46 million deal
By Adam McGee
Value
With previous reports from Adrian Wojnarowski suggesting Snell could earn as much as $13 million per year, getting him locked up at a deal that effectively comes in at $11 million per year guaranteed is pretty solid.
It’s not a spectacular discount akin to what the Warriors got with Shaun Livingston, but considering this is a player set to enter his prime, and this is a negotiation that’s very possibly going to be the most significant contract of his career, it would have been difficult to expect too much better.
Officially structured with year on year increases, Snell’s first year potentially coming in just below $10 million is almost the best the Bucks could have hoped for in their search to avoid the luxury tax while retaining the former New Mexico Lobo.
With Snell’s deal coming so early in free agency, it’s hard to know just how his contract will fare out in comparison to similarly skilled players by the time all is said and done this summer.
A valid criticism of the deal would be the Bucks’ eagerness to lock him up immediately when waiting may have revealed a depressed market and potentially a cheaper deal. On the other hand, in wanting to keep him the Bucks couldn’t risk a more lucrative offer sheet given their current tax squeeze.
If Snell continues to go from strength to strength the deal will represent good value, and many will likely come to bemoan the player option on the fourth year. In reality, the deal could play out well for both sides as is. The possibility of Snell opting out in the same summer Matthew Dellavedova comes off the books could ensure some flexibility for the Bucks in the final summer before Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s final year of his current deal.
If it comes down to needing to make drastic moves to impress and keep their superstar, the extra flexibility may not be a source of regret in the summer of 2020.