Tony Snell Is a Quality Yet Limited Shooting Specialist for Blazers

Tony Snell has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Blazers. What does he bring to Portland?

Jack Winter

Tony Snell Is a Quality Yet Limited Shooting Specialist for Blazers
Tony Snell Is a Quality Yet Limited Shooting Specialist for Blazers /

The Trail Blazers have agreed with free agent sharpshooter Tony Snell on a one-year contract, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Terms of the deal weren't immediately available, but the assumption is that Snell signed for the minimum as opposed to part or all of the taxpayer's mid-level exception. Role players who inked contracts worth at least several million dollars mostly came off the board within the first few hours of free agency, and it's not like the market was ever rumored to be especially hot on Snell.

Getting Snell on a minimum contract is an objective win for Portland, even in wake of Monday's pact with Ben McLemore seemingly filling the team's need for a shooting specialist. 

The most important difference between Snell and McLemore is that the former is actually a great shooter instead of just owning the reputation of one. Snell shot a jaw-dropping 56.9 percent from three-point range last season with the Atlanta Hawks, the best single-year mark in NBA history for a player who launched at least 100 triples, according to analysis at Stathead Basketball.

Snell's record-breaking efficiency extended to other parts of the floor, too.

Obviously, Snell wouldn't have been available for the minimum or a bit more than that if he was actually one of the greatest shooters of all time. 

Impressive as his numbers are, Snell lacks the versatility and aggressiveness with his jumper needed to warp defenses by jacking threes with abandon. His release isn't especially fast, and Snell has shown little ability to drain threes without his feet set or part of his body turned away from the rim on the catch. 

Incredibly, Snell attempted a career-worst 5.4 threes per 100 possessions in 2020-21, a rate lower than Nassir Little's. He just doesn't have the mindset nor shooting talent to play like Duncan Robinson or even Bryn Forbes. At 29, entering his ninth season in the league, Snell is who he is.

That's not a bad thing at all for Portland considering the price it took nab him. Snell's length alone makes him a more passable defender than McLemore, and the Blazers have plenty of other quality shooters who are comfortable launching off movement. Defenses simply can't afford Snell much air space on the weak side without risking a three, a dynamic that makes his addition worthwhile all by itself.

Expect Snell to slot ahead of McLemore in Chauncey Billups' rotation, getting semi-regular minutes as an injury replacement and being consistently called upon in circumstances Portland needs a three. The Blazers haven't exactly made the splash they need to so far in free agency, but another quality minimum signing is a good piece of business from Neil Olshey regardless.

READ MORE: Ben McLemore Reportedly Signs Minimum Deal With Blazers

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Jack Winter
JACK WINTER

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