How much 24-year-old guard Eric Snow will play this season depends on how well 33-year-old Nate McMillan rebounds from off-season knee surgery. "Snow's role could be very significant, or less if McMillan is healthy," says president and general manager Wally Walker. Either way, Snow figures to play more than he has. As a rookie in 1995-96, he averaged 2.7 points in 43 games; last season, 3.0 points and 2.4 assists in 67 games. "Out of college, the knock on him was that he was a poor shooter," says Walker. "But through hard work, he now has a good 15- to 18-foot jumper. And he's one of the best on-the-ball defenders I've ever seen. He's got a chance to be an outstanding point guard."