NY Knicks CAA Files: Potential Free Agents Leon Rose might target
Potential Free agents with CAA connections: Tony Snell
Tony Snell is in year 3 of a 4-year, $46 million contract, with a player option worth $12.1 million. Due to COVID-19, Snell may easily pick up his option and could easily turn into an interesting trade chip for a team looking to shed salary cap room after 2021.
The Detroit Pistons aren’t in a rush for Snell’s contract to come off the books because the team isn’t near playoff contention, just yet, and they have enough cap space in free agency. However, Snell’s agent is Austin Brown and Leon Rose could flex his CAA relationships to convince Snell to decline his player option in return for a larger 1+1 contract with New York. This is not necessarily a likely option, but it’s worth the slight consideration.
Snell, in fact, started 57 of 59 games this season. His best NBA moment so far came this past season when he achieved this immaculate milestone: a perfect shooting night against the New York Knicks. Snell became the 9th player in NBA History – and the first Detroit Piston – to have a perfect shooting night while making at least 6 three pointers (24 points on 9-9 from the field, 6-6 from three).
Snell averaged all of 8 points/game in 27.8 minutes/game and shot 40% from three (1.7 threes/game). His calling card has been hitting threes at nearly a 40% clip, along with playing solid defense. At 6’7 with a 7’0 wingspan, he’s more than able to hold his own on the defensive front.
Beyond the CAA connection, Snell also played under coaching candidates Tom Thibodeau and Jason Kidd, while playing with both the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. As a player familiar with playing with both coaches, Snell could provide the necessary floor spacing that both former Pistons Wayne Ellington & Reggie Bullock couldn’t in New York. The key is convincing Snell to decline the player option.