Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for Tony Snell’s four-year, $46 million deal
By Adam McGee
Role
The optimistic Bucks fan will look at Snell as at best a sixth or seventh man in the bigger picture, but with a more pragmatic view it’s not difficult to imagine multiple circumstances in which he may even become a more central figure.
Less about Snell’s own potential improvements than Milwaukee’s own uncertainties, in re-signing the wing the Bucks can have some security on the wing in what could be an uncertain couple of seasons.
At the very least, Snell is set to continue in his starter’s role through to the All-Star break next season when Jabari Parker is scheduled to return from injury. Although the hope will be that Parker makes a full recovery and puts his injury woes behind him, Snell is also cover if there is a bump on that road.
If Parker looks a lesser player upon return, or worse again suffers further injury, the Bucks will still have a wing duo of Snell and Khris Middleton to fall back on.
Alternatively, if Parker makes a full recovery and kicks on in the coming seasons, Snell would also act as insurance if Khris Middleton was to opt out of his player option and leave as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.
Even if neither of those outcomes come to pass, there’s nothing wrong with having a capable, versatile and well-paid bench wing. It’s a position of increasing importance in the NBA, and although there’s reason for legitimate gripes about Milwaukee’s overall funds committed to bench players, it makes little sense for Snell’s deal to be bundled in as akin to those of John Henson, Mirza Teletovic and Matthew Dellavedova.
Snell would seem likely to experience some regression from his career three-point shooting year, but if he can offer his regularly stellar defense and a consistent threat of 37 percent upwards from deep, there’s no doubt of his fit in Milwaukee.