Milwaukee Bucks: Taking a look at the Tony Snell trade

Ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to ship wing Tony Snell and the 30th overall pick to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jon Leuer and some much-needed cap relief.

The 2019 NBA offseason may be in its early stages, but that hasn’t stopped the Milwaukee Bucks from making moves.

Less than 48 hours after rumors surfaced that the front office was dangling Ersan Ilyasova, Tony Snell and the 30th overall pick in this year’s draft in trade talks in exchange for cap relief, the latter two were agreed to be sent to the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night, per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski.

To avoid violating the NBA’s Stepien rule against trading first round picks in consecutive years, Milwaukee will select a player with the final pick of the round, then send it to Detroit. This loophole ensures the trade will go through.

In return, the Bucks will receive power forward/center Jon Leuer. A downgrade in production from what Snell was able to provide, the move was likely centered around relief against the salary cap for Milwaukee. According to Wojnarowski, bringing in Leuer saves $4 million for the Bucks this season. How did the team fare in making this swap?

How the trade is a win

The fact that this transaction potentially opens the door for additional cap space to be freed up in both the immediate future and down the road makes it a win for Milwaukee. As one of the best teams in the NBA and an aspiring championship winner, saving money is a huge part of making that goal a reality.

Snell is a solid role player, but is set to make nearly $23.6 million over the next two seasons. Leuer’s salary is just a small decrease from Snell’s this season, but he isn’t on the books for the 2020-21 season. That will save the Bucks from having to pay the $12.2 million Snell was likely to accept as a player option on his contract.

As things currently stand, acquiring Leuer would save a bit of cap space. Per Yahoo! Sports‘ Keith Smith, waiving him and using the stretch provision would create another $6.3 million in room to work with. With huge decisions looming regarding pending free agents Malcolm Brogdon, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, every dollar makes a big difference.

How the trade is a loss

From a financial standpoint, this trade can’t be described as a loss. Even if Milwaukee elects to keep Leuer on the team, it’s a money-saving move. There are still a couple of minor areas of concern to keep in mind, though.

First and foremost, losing the No. 30 pick in the draft means missing out on the opportunity to acquire a cheap rookie under team control for the future. The Bucks’ own Brogdon was a second round pick himself. If any team could’ve found a hidden gem with the final pick of the first round, it’s the Bucks.

Moving from Snell to Leuer is a downgrade on the court. Becoming a bit more shallow on the wing in exchange for a player who’s appeared in 49 games in the last two seasons isn’t a red flag, but it’s something to keep an eye on. If Leuer doesn’t last with the team and becomes a free agent, there will be an empty roster spot previously occupied by Snell’s production.

This is one of the biggest offseasons in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history. Gaining some financial flexibility is a terrific start. With so many moves left to make, getting a head start on answering the age-old cap question is a solid decision by general manager Jon Horst and company.