Snell officially signs new contract.
Starting wing agrees to 4-year, $44M deal
When free agency kicked off July 1, the Milwaukee Bucks swiftly moved to lock up restricted free-agent wing Tony Snell, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $44 million deal.
There was no need for theatrics, drawn-out discussions or waiting. During Snell’s one season in Milwaukee, both sides had made it clear to one another that their fit together was perfect and neither wanted to split anytime soon.
About a month after the verbal agreement, Snell officially signed his new contract Monday. It reportedly includes a player option after the third year and reachable incentives that would push his total earnings to $46 million.
“It was kind of set in stone when the team reached out to me,” Snell said Monday. “They told me how important I was to the team and I felt real welcome here . ...
“I’m happy being here. The organization supports me and I support them. I think it’s right that I stayed.”
Snell arrived in Milwaukee in the trade that sent Michael Carter-Williams to Chicago last October. The Los Angeles native and University of New Mexico standout left a situation where he was seldom used in his first three seasons and didn’t have many prospects for making an impact had he stayed with the Bulls.
His opportunities changed drastically upon joining the Bucks. With Khris Middleton out for most of the season with a torn left hamstring, Snell immediately earned a spot in the starting rotation and never left — starting all 80 regular-season games he played as well as Milwaukee’s six playoff contests.
“I feel it was a fresh start with what I was going through down there,” Snell said. “Everything happens for a reason. I was with a lot of great vets playing down there; I was learning from them, watching them the whole time . ... I tried to carry that over here.”
Snell thrived in his larger role, adding some much-needed outside shooting to the Bucks’ arsenal. He averaged 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 45.5% overall and 40.6% from threepoint range. His 58.8% effective field-goal percentage — a value in which three-point shooting carries added weight — was the best on the team.
One of the reasons Snell fit so well was he didn’t need the ball much on offense. Rather, he benefited from the creativity of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Malcolm Brogdon, Matthew Dellavedova and the team’s other ball-handlers, providing them with a consistent outlet, especially on the perimeter. Most of Snell’s points (5.5 per game) and two-thirds of his shots came on catch-and-shoot opportunities — both the most on the team.
In addition to his role on offense, Snell often drew the toughest assignments on defense and handled himself well. His versatility and consistency meant the Bucks could shift him as needed and allow other players, like Antetokounmpo and Middleton who expend more energy on offense, to have a relatively less-challenging assignment on defense.
Snell’s quiet nature and willingness to fit any role made him a great fit in the locker room. Early in the off-season, multiple teammates expressed that they wanted him back.
“Most of my Bucks teammates reached out and I met a couple in person and it just worked out,” Snell said. “I feel like it’s a family here. I feel great here.”
The changes in the Bucks’ front office — most notably John Hammond leaving as the general manager in May and Jon Horst ultimately taking his place just days before the draft — didn’t bother Snell. He knew Horst and felt comfortable with him.
Most importantly, he still felt the same high level of appreciation from the organization as a whole and recognized he was their top priority in free agency.
“It made me feel really good,” Snell said. “It made me feel appreciated for what I do. They see that I work hard every day and I try to get better. I feel welcome.”
Now that he’s found his niche and will be here for the foreseeable future, Snell is intent on continuing to whatever is necessary to push the Bucks over the top in the Eastern Conference. Last year’s playoff experience was beneficial to Snell and the rest of the team, but he has higher aspirations, especially considering the Bucks are set to bring back all of their core and most of the players from last year’s squad.
“It feels really special; we have a special group of guys,” Snell said. “I feel we’re very young but very talented at the same time. We’ve got some (playoff) experience, so I’m very excited.”