2013 Draft Profile: Michael Snaer

Mar 15, 2013; Greensboro, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Michael Snaer (21) drives to the basket against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Snaer

6’5, 201 lbs., Senior, Shooting Guard, 23 years old, Florida State University

2012-13 Stats

32.7 minutes, 14.8 points, 42.5% field goal percentage, 38.4% three point percentage, 81.7% free throw percentage, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals

Strengths

Michael Snaer may be most known as a college player for his ability to knock down a huge shot. Between his junior and senior season, Snaer hit a buzzer-beating, game-winner six, yes six, times. Snaer isn’t Steph Curry when it comes to taking three pointers, but he isn’t Smush Parker either. He shot a respectable 40.4% his junior year and 38.4% his senior year from deep, showing he has the range to play in the NBA. In his senior season, he was also looked upon as main offensive option, being asked to initiate the offense while still knocking down outside shots. As a result, his ability to create off the dribble and get to the rack greatly improved.

What goes under the radar for most fans in Snaer’s superb defensive ability. With a 6’8 wingspan as a two-guard and surprisingly good lateral quickness, Snaer was Florida State’s best defender and is more than ready to come into the NBA and translate his skill set defensively.

Weaknesses

While Snaer has a solid outside shot, when he moves inside the arc, things go downhill quickly. His 46% 2-point conversation rate ranks in the bottom 10 of DraftExpress.com’s top-100 prospects. He has problems finishing with his off-hand and finishing at the rim, which led to that subpar conversion rate.
Maybe as a result of being forced into an increased role offensively, his shot selection was put into question his senior year. His turnover rate went up (although the amount of free throws he attempted per game went up, also). He doesn’t have a good pull-up or mid-range game, both which became more glaring his senior season.

Where he fits on the Lakers

Snaer’s defensively ability would immediately get him minutes on the Lakers. No one on the Lakers bench (or on the whole team, for that matter) was seen as a defensive menace, which Snaer would be. Even if the Lakers pick up Jodie Meeks’ option, Snaer would see minutes thanks to his ability to knock down a three-pointer. He could possibly even play some time as the small forward along side Meeks depending on if the Lakers add a backup to that position this off-season.

Our Take

Jacob Rude – I don’t think another shooting guard is a player we should target, but considering how bad our bench was, anything would be an improvement. Given his defensive ability and having personally watched him play for the better part of four years, I like Snaer and think he’d be a good pickup. But that’s only if we can’t address or already have addressed other weaknesses prior to Snaer.

Caleb Cottrell – Snaer could be a nice pickup for the Lakers as Jacob said, but I think they have more pressing needs, such as grabbing a small forward, or stretch four. If the Lakers wanted to put Kobe at the three, like they did at times last season, and Earl Clark at the four, I could see Snaer being a possibility, but I’m not sure the Lakers want to do that.