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Four Thoughts On Utah Jazz Newcomer Shelvin Mack

By Jared Woodcox

Feb 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8) warms up prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8) warms up prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Shelvin Mack (8) poses for a photo during media day at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Shelvin Mack (8) poses for a photo during media day at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Long-Term Fit

While all of this is fine and good for the remainder of the 2015-16 season, the unavoidable question has to be regarding Mack’s fit with the team once Dante Exum returns healthy. First off, Mack is fortunately on a very reasonable $2.4 million contract that actually has a team option for next year. So if something unforeseen comes up that makes the Jazz feel like Mack is no longer a fit at the end of this season, then they won’t have any obligation to keep him around. Essentially it was a very low-risk acquisition.

With that being said, unless some major chemistry issue arises or Utah includes Mack in some beneficial trade, it’s hard to see them wanting to part with a player who thus far has appeared to be an ideal fit for them. The most likely outcome is that the Jazz keep Mack around to either help stretch and compete with Dante Exum for the starter role, or if Exum appears ready to take over the team, to allow Mack to become a spark off the bench who can be an effective ball handler and scoring guard for the second unit.

Coach Snyder surely hasn’t shown any hesitancy to switch up his starting lineup, so expect an Exum vs. Mack duel for the starting position to ultimately go to the deserving candidate. The other long-term question that arrives with Mack on the team is what will the Jazz do with four point guards on the roster? There have already been talks that Burke could be the odd man out that the Jazz look to move, but Neto hasn’t proven himself indispensable either. Whatever the case is, if Mack continues to play at a high level, it isn’t likely that Utah would keep the other two point guards and moving either Neto or Burke would become almost a guarantee.

While a lot of this insight is definitely premature seeing that Mack has only played in two games for the Jazz, early indications are that it will be a beneficial move for Utah. Although it’s definitely too early to give a realistic verdict on Mack’s impact on the team, so far he appears to be a solid move both short-term and long-term despite a few potential concerns.

Next: Utah Jazz: Hayward is Mr. Almost-Perfect

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