Chicago Bulls Offseason Checklist: How Tony Snell Can Improve His Game
Tony Snell has a shot at redemption of sorts as the Fred Hoiberg era begins for the Chicago Bulls. The second-year wing experienced inconsistent usage under previous head coach Tom Thibodeau, but he did show flashes of meaningful utility during that stint.
Snell was selected late in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft. If nothing else, he was considered to have the tools to be another efficient perimeter sentry for an already smothering Bulls defense. Unfortunately, he was being brought up by a coach with the old-school view that younger players should watch and learn rather than play.
Snell’s main purpose was to be the next man up in case of injury. There were a number of those chances provided to him, but pickings were slim beyond that. Even though his career is still in its fledgling stage, he has shown patience beyond his years in regard to playing opportunities.
Now there is a new coach in place whose system could provide resuscitation for Snell but not without the former University of New Mexico Lobo bolstering himself a bit. There are a few things that could stand some improvement if he is going to have a shot at advancing his standing in the pecking order.
Maintain three-point shot improvement
Snell’s three-point percentage increased from his first season to his second, so this improvement isn’t that much of a stretch. According to his numbers from NBA.com’s statistics page, he went from shooting 32 percent in his rookie year to 37.1 percent from beyond the arc during his sophomore campaign.
Those numbers are based on taking 178 and 197 total attempts, respectively, so it is an accurate reflection of genuine progress.
Kelly Scaletta, featured columnist for Bleacher Report but writing here for Today's Fastbreak, pointed out that Hoiberg’s offensive scheme generates a significant amount of quality three-point looks. A locked-in Snell would be just what the team needs.
This is more than just an issue of being a player with something meaningful to contribute. The Bulls are looking at a very constrained offseason.
The main goal will be re-signing Jimmy Butler—an endeavor that is going to be costly given the amount of buzz he’s created for himself with his breakout season. That could very likely affect what the team can do with soon-to-be free agent Mike Dunleavy. Should the former Duke Blue Devil be allowed to walk, his replacement will have to come from within the organization.
Snell is going to have to be ready for what could be a more prominent role. If he can show improved long-range proficiency, that could ensure a smooth transition if he has to move into a more distinguished position. If not, he still gives himself a chance to go from a fill-in for injured players to a regular contributor.
Bulk up
Snell’s primary position is small forward, but his frame is not built to fully thrive in that capacity.
According to DraftExpress.com’s profile, Snell weighed 198 pounds at the 2013 NBA Draft Combine. There is not much difference in the vitals on his NBA.com profile as the 6’7” wing is listed as weighing 200 pounds. He is virtually the same size two years after being drafted, and that is a problem.
Snell needs to add about 10-15 pounds of muscle in preparation for his 2015-16 run. The additional mass would serve him well on both sides of the ball, but his defense would benefit the most.
His usual position has him often guarding some of the most athletically gifted players in the league. The Bulls face the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (when not injured) several times a season. Factor in the depth of wing talent in the Eastern Conference, and it becomes apparent that a svelte build is not going to cut it.
Snell does have length. His aforementioned draft profile lists his wingspan at 6’11½”; that’s enough to pester any ball handler who tries to face him on the perimeter. If there is a size mismatch, however, there’s not much he can do if he gets caught being posted up.
Adding size would let Snell be more aggressive when defending, allowing him to use both size and reach to pressure his assignment. It would be a critical step in legitimizing himself as a two-way stud.
Bolster the mid-range jumper
Snell’s shooting form is so fluid that it would be difficult believing that he struggles from anywhere on the floor, but a breakdown of his distribution reveals a huge missing component of his offensive repertoire.
His three-point accuracy has already been covered. There isn’t much cause for concern if he’s spotting up from downtown; however, his mid-range game leaves a lot to be desired. Snell’s shooting stats show that he connects on a paltry 33.3 percent of attempts taken from 15-19 feet.
That number does look underwhelming, but the youngster is not completely to blame as he only took 24 total attempts within that range. This is more of a usage issue. Under Thibodeau, Snell ran off of screens to shoot a three-pointer. His 52.6 percent accuracy in catch-and-shoot situations coupled with the number of shots he took from behind the arc drive that point home.
A better mid-range option would be the crack in the dam that allows his full offensive potential to burst through.
If his three-point accuracy keeps improving, he could get a defender to bite on a pump fake then take a couple of steps in and nail the shot. The feint could be used from mid-range as well to give him a clear path to the basket.
Snell never had much of a reason to work on this aspect of his game before because he was relegated to stretching the defense; however, with the faster, more fluid system that will be implemented by Hoiberg, the 23-year-old has to make himself more appealing.
This new chapter for the Bulls franchise brings second-chance opportunities, and the things that are falling into place could be a big boon for Snell. He doesn’t have to do anything too drastic to better his game, but there is still room for growth.
Given his sensational performance during the 2014 Las Vegas Summer League, there is no reason to think that he isn’t already doing what it takes to come back as a better player. Even though nothing has been determined concerning roles, Snell’s prospects are certainly looking up.
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