June 29, 2018

Mike Muscala
PF/C - 6’11, 240lbs - 26 years old - 5 years of experience

Aside from it incorporating quite a lot of lost time due to injury – and, really, of how many Hawks players is this not true? – Muscala returned a good season. Brought back to the team last offseason to a very fair price that perhaps undervalue his abilities and usefulness going forward considering how well his skill set should play in the modern NBA market, Muscala then had probably the best season of his career, if a shortened one.

It is therefore a bit of a shame that he seems almost certain to go back onto the market again via his player option. A good outside shooter for a big who seems to get more aggressive with each passing year, Muscala is embracing what was once a part of his game and turning it into the main part of his game and career going forwards. But that is not to say that it is all he does - unlike players such as Justin Hamilton before him, Muscala is also sufficiently capable defensively. Not hugely strong, not hugely quick, and not a great rim protector, he nevertheless is quick enough to rotate, scramble, close out, and stick with opponents in switches. And considering he starts and ends most possessions on the perimeter, he boards fairly well too.

There might not be much upside beyond what he does. Some defensive nous, a more consistent shot and sustaining if not improving on his new defensive rebounding rate are all feasible developments for him, but there is not the ball skill or athleticism to become a whole lot more than what he is. Then again, there doesn’t need to be.

Player Plan: $5 million player option for next season he has exercised. See if anything can be gotten for it, as Spellman is younger with more team control, but he is young enough to still be a part of what seemingly will be the world’s best shooting frontcourt.

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June 29, 2017

Mike Muscala
PF/C, 6’11, 240lbs, 25 years old, 4 years of experience

Tailed off late in the year, but emerged as a much higher volume and more efficient three-point shooter than before. While his 3PAr climbs and climbs (up to .329 this season), his usage rate continues to shrink (career low 14.8%), even though as a 41.8% three-point shooter, he should continue to shoot more. This is particularly true when considering that the three-point uptick has seen his offensive rebounding numbers drop far off, and, often giving up strength in the post, he needs to counter that from outside. Muscala could have some value on the market as a stretch five who does a decent job keeping up defensively on pick-and-rolls, without giving up around the basket. The downside of having signed for this fourth season though is that he will not be a restricted free agent.

Player Plan: UFA with full Bird rights but meriting a big pay rise and will have suitors. A three year, $20-24 million deal would be a decent price range for him, but he may be coveted.

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March 17, 2011

Bucknell's best player, somewhat comfortably, is 6'11 sophomore Mike Muscala. He and his shotblocking is the crux of their interior defense, by far their biggest player (in terms of height, at least), and is an efficient inside/outside, post-up/face-up offensive threat, capable of making shots around the basket with both hands. Surrounding him, senior Darryl Shazier is amongst the nation's leaders in assists at 5.6 a game, alongside a crazily low 1.5 turnovers a contest. Canadian sharpshooter Bryson Johnson is one of the nation's best, casting six and a half per game, hits 46% of them, and is a huge part of the team's .402% three point percentage, the seventh best mark in the league.

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