Shelvin Mack

Shevlin Mack
PG, 6’3, 203lbs, 27 years old, 6 years of experience

Last season for Mack was marked by inconsistency, especially in a tendency to try and play Heroball. Sometimes, it worked – big for his position and a decent shot-maker, Mack would sometimes be a key offensive cog of the bench, making plays out of the pick-and-roll, getting into the paint and finishing with strength rather than explosion. But more often than not, it didn’t. Mack made costly turnovers, often unforced, and was a weak point in the defence all season long. He also shot only 30.8% from three-point range, an area of his game that has not really grown throughout his career. The future of the point guard position is in question, but Mack is not the answer.

Player Plan: Expiring $2,433,334 contract. Not sure if this is the place for him. Exum, Mitchell and (if he returns) Burks probably push him out of the door. Neither of those three are strictly point guards. Then again, neither was Mack.

Atlanta - Shelvin Mack, Cartier Martin and Mike Scott: All three are rotation players on the resurgent Hawks, and playing well. Mack averages 6.9 points and 3.6 assists (alongside only 0.9 turnovers per game), Scott averages 7.2 points in only 14 minutes per game, and the somewhat one dimensional shooting specialist Martin is nonetheless shooting 41% from three. With no financial concerns to worry about, all three are surely certain to survive.

Picks 34 and 35: Washington make a good value pick when they choose Shelvin Mack from Butler at #34. Sacramento immediately follows this up with Tyler Honeycutt at #35, both of which are the correct pick. Versatile, talented, decently sized, two way, probably-should-have-been-first-rounder types who could make the very end of an active list right away.

While there's absolutely no minutes for him in Sacramento, Honeycutt is a good pick, a sophomore with some innate skills and the combination of age and athleticism that makes you want to work with him. Meanwhile, Mack may get minutes straight off the bat - in the midst of all their recent roster turnover, which at one point saw a ridiculous guard excess, Washington doesn't actually have a backup point guard at the moment, aside from the unsuitable Jordan Crawford. They could and should still acquire a veteran option, but there's a contributing role for Mack in there somewhere.

Shelvin Mack - Another candidate for the coveted "just a guard" honour, Mack has few flaws. He can play the point, or he can play the two. He can shoot, or he can drive. He can handle, or he can move without the ball. He can pass, or he can spot up. He does a little bit of everything. But what's his role going to be? Can you be "just a guard" in the NBA? Maybe if you can jump like Shannon Brown or shoot like Eddie House. Mack does neither of these.

If he's going to make it as a shooter, he's going to have to get better as a shooter.

Matt Howard has reinvented himself somewhat in his senior season. He retains all his post footwork, touch and toughness, yet to that combination, he has added a three point shot. Howard is 44-99 from three on the season after going 5 for 20 in his previous three seasons, has improved defending the perimeter as well, and is committing less fouls than before. Shelvin Mack is a high quality all-around guard; a shooter, a scorer, a distributor, a leader, a defender, a driver. He can be whatever Butler needs him to be.