Tony Snell remained unsigned during the 2023-24 NBA season but isn't giving up hope for a comeback just yet. Snell told Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal that he is desperately trying to play his 10th season so that his family gets healthcare benefits as part of the players association’s retiree benefits program.
"I didn't make it this far to make it (just) this far," Snell said. "I’m really trying to get that 10th year to take care of my family for life."
Both of Snell's children, Karter and Kenzo, have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. When Tony learned of Karter's diagnosis, he got himself checked and it turned out he had autism too.
Snell revealed that to the world during an appearance on The Today Show on June 16, 2023, and received a lot of support from the basketball world. What he didn't get, though, was a contract from an NBA team and he really needs it for his children.
Snell, the 20th pick of the 2013 Draft, has played nine seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. Now, any individual who has played in the league for three seasons qualifies for pension and medical benefits.
Once they have played for seven seasons, they get premium benefits, but just for themselves. It is only after a player completes their 10th season, that their family gets those premium benefits as well.
So, if Snell plays just one more season, his children will be taken care of but I wonder if he will get another shot. The 32-year-old last played in the NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans back in 2022.
Snell, who has made $52.6 million in salaries during his NBA career, didn't generate much interest during free agency that offseason. As time went on and no opportunities came his way, he had to sign with the Maine Celtics, Boston's G League affiliate, in Jan. 2023, to continue his basketball career. He has spent the last season and a half with them and hopes his time with the G League comes to an end soon.
Why Did No Team Sign Tony Snell Last Season?
Snell made a public plea earlier this year for any team to sign him, but no one did. That was a bit surprising, but according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, there was a legitimate reason for that.
"Multiple teams would have signed Snell to a 10-day deal this week, league sources told Yahoo Sports, if that was all that was required to satisfy Snell’s 10th season. But for the retiree benefits plan, as written in the collective bargaining agreement, there’s a strict requirement for players to be on an NBA roster for the rest of the season by Feb. 2, or for a player to have played 50% of the season’s games."
So, it had to be a standard NBA contract, not just a 10-day one. Teams that crossed the luxury tax line and those contending for the title, wouldn't have wanted to give Snell a standard deal. That leaves just the tanking teams and none of them gave him a contract either.
It will be interesting to see if any of them will this time around. Teams like the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, and Brooklyn Nets are potential landing spots for Snell and I do hope one of them snaps him up.
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