As the NBA All-Star break coming ahead this weekend, its time to evaluate the Bucks’ Tony Snell and what kind of year he has had so far. Expectations for Snell were higher after coming into Milwaukee from the trade with the Bulls that ultimately added a three point threat the Bucks desperately needed. After signing a four year, $44 million dollar contract, it is understandable that the spotlight is to shine a little brighter on Snell this season.
Through 50 games played, Snell has been the threat Milwaukee knew he could be behind the arc with a percentage of 40%. That number though is the only one in the stat line that stands out. With only an average of 7.3 points a game, all the while playing an average of 29.0 minutes a game, one can wonder, what else has Snell really brought to the table for the Bucks this season. By only averaging 1.0 assist along with 2.1 rebounds, its difficult to make a case for Tony being a true role player for the Bucks.
With Players on the Rise, Snell May Be Left in the Dust
The trust this team has in Snell to hit the long shot when push comes to shove is ideal with the type of team the Bucks have. Length is vital for Milwaukee to be successful, if used properly, opponents are overwhelmed by the Bucks ability to be virtually anywhere on the court and potentially be a defensive nightmare. There has been some error in Snell’s game as of recent, whether it is the low stat line or looking out of sync with Milwaukee’s big three, it is hard to tell if the Bucks wrote the check too big for all Snell is worth.
To be fair, as stated above, with a big three like Antetokounmpo, Bledsoe, and Middleton on the court, it can be hard to stand out offensively. The stat line may not show the full potential Tony can contribute to Milwaukee, the little things that he can contribute might just add up to being worthy of that hefty contract. As for this season, it is my claim that if Snell were to receive a grade for play, he would be handed a C+.
There are moments on the court which makes Bucks’ fans happy to have Tony on board, but if being honest, they do not occur often enough. With Malcolm Brogdon’s injury, this is a crucial time for Tony to show why being on the Bucks roster makes the team better than it would be without him. There is still plenty of basketball to be played and the hope is high for Snell to spark at just the right time to help Milwaukee achieve it’s playoff goals. If he helps us win a series, he’s worth the $11 million per year.
