Orlando Magic: 5 bench players most likely to become starters
By Luke Duffy
3. Shelvin Mack
Not enough people are talking about Shelvin Mack, and how he could become this team’s starting point guard before the season is over.
He may have only started 50 games out of 330 in his career so far, but he was a competent starter once George Hill went down with injury for the Utah Jazz last season — so much so that at 26 years old, now may actually be the time for Mack to become a full-time starter in the NBA.
It is interesting that Payton, the team’s current floor general, has yet to be offered an early extension ahead of the regular season. It makes complete sense to let him become a restricted free agent next summer, and see what he brings throughout the year.
If it goes badly, and Payton has been both a starter and come off the bench in his three years with the team. The stage is set for Mack to come in.
He is a career 32.1 percent 3-point shooter, compared to the 28.9 percent of Payton. Elfrid may also be the better defender, but the signing of Mack clearly seems to signify competition between the two to start.
It would then allow the Magic to re-sign Payton next summer to a team-friendly contract if no big offers come in, which at this moment doesn’t seem likely.
Regardless of what happens with him, however, Shelvin Mack is the real one to watch on this list, because he’s going to sneak up on some people.