Hoops Habit
Fansided

Orlando Magic: Ranking their top 5 offseason signings

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 22: John Hammond and Jeff Weltman of the Orlando Magic talk in the war room during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 22: John Hammond and Jeff Weltman of the Orlando Magic talk in the war room during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
ORLANDO, FL – JULY 18: Orlando Magic player Shelvin Mack addresses the media on July 18, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – JULY 18: Orlando Magic player Shelvin Mack addresses the media on July 18, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Shelvin Mack

The upside to adding point guard Shelvin Mack to this team is two-fold. Firstly, he will be among the better backup guards this team has had in recent seasons.

He played his part on an impressive Utah Jazz team last season, with an effective field goal percentage of 49.5 percent.

At 26 years old, he only figures to improve if he can just settle with one team, which is what he was doing in Utah.

The second positive aspect of Mack’s arrival, however, is if the team decides to move on from Elfrid Payton.

More from Hoops Habit

Mack would be an ideal short-term replacement if Payton is moved on, and there’s actually reason to believe he’d do a better job than you might think at being a starting point guard.

At the tail end of 2016, he was traded to the Jazz from the Atlanta Hawks, where he started 27 of the 28 games he played for them to end that season.

In that time, he averaged career highs in minutes played (31.4 per game), points (12.7 per game, next highest after that is 7.8 of last season), assists (5.3 per game) and free throw attempts (1.8 per game).

He also shot 35.7 percent on three-pointers despite taking 3.5 per game — by far a career high.

Mack may not stick with this team the rest of his career, but it’ll be interesting to see if he remains a capable backup or moves into a starting role. He looks capable of doing both.

Home/Orlando Magic