Charles F. Gardner

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The early returns on the Tony Snell for Michael Carter-Williams trade are in, and they favor the Milwaukee Bucks.

Snell is logging big minutes as the Bucks starting shooting guard with Khris Middleton sidelined following hamstring surgery.

Carter-Williams has battled several injuries since joining the Chicago Bulls and recently was ruled out for four to six weeks with a sprained left wrist.

The Bucks added Snell in the mid-October trade to bolster their backcourt after the serious injury suffered by Middleton. Both Snell and Carter-Williams will be restricted free agents after the season ends.

The 6-foot-7 Snell has proved to be a strong defender and a decent three-point threat, providing an outside complement to the inside game of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker.

In the Bucks’ 105-99 loss to Toronto on Friday, Snell defended DeMar DeRozan, one of the hottest shooters in the league. Snell also gave the Bucks a lift with 4-of-10 shooting from three-point range and 16 points.

“Tony comes from the school of Thibs,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said, referring to former Bulls and current Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau. “He played for a defensive-minded coach and understands what defense is all about.

“He plays both ends. He can stretch the defense and shoot behind the three. He does fit and we’re very lucky to have him.”

Snell is a quiet young man, a former high school teammate of San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard.

Snell was buried at the end of the Bulls bench but suddenly has a prime opportunity in Milwaukee.

His current teammate, veteran Jason Terry, interviewed Snell on SiriusXM Radio last week and highlighted the player’s two-way potential and pointed out Snell played center at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, Calif., where he teamed with Leonard.

Later he was a point guard in prep school – Westwind Academy in Phoenix – before moving on to play at the University of New Mexico. He was the 20th overall pick by the Bulls in the 2013 draft, taken five places after the Bucks selected Antetokounmpo.

“To be able to have shooters in that first group, with Giannis and Jabari out on the floor, gives space and allows those guys to take advantage of that,” Kidd said. “Tony has done everything we’ve asked on the offensive end.

“When you’re open, shoot it. And he’s done that.”

Snell relished the chance to go against DeRozan on Friday, even though the Raptors player stayed hot with 26 points and sank the game-clinching shot with 16 seconds left.

“Big-time players make big-time plays,” Snell said. “It was a tough shot. Great defense.”

Snell said he is getting more comfortable in the offense as he gains more experience in the system.

“I’m just getting in the gym late nights and working on my craft, staying ready at all times,” Snell said.

The Bucks make a quick trip to Orlando to face the Magic on Sunday. Milwaukee edged the Magic, 93-89, at home Monday.

But they have come up just short in home losses to Golden State and Toronto while falling to a 6-8 overall record.

“It’s very encouraging,” he said, “because we get to battle top teams.

“We’re right there; we’ve just got to learn how to finish better. It’s just the little things, little mistakes and plays here and there that add up to it. So we’ve just got to learn from our mistakes.”

When Snell joined the Bucks in training camp, he was hampered by a left ankle injury that caused him to miss a few weeks and the season opener against Charlotte.

But he has started all 13 games he has played and is averaging 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 29.1 minutes per game. He is shooting 31.1% from three-point range but is determined to improve that number.

In three seasons with the Bulls, he averaged 5.3 points and shot 35.1% from three-point range.

Vaughn back to D-League: Rashad Vaughn’s stay in Milwaukee was brief.

The Bucks recalled the second-year guard from the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League on Wednesday. He was with the Bucks on Friday but did not play and was returned to the Knicks’ affiliate on Saturday.

Kidd said the Bucks want to get Vaughn consistent playing time. Terry and Malcolm Brogdon are ahead of the 20-year-old Vaughn in the bench rotation.