2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Shelvin Mack

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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 3: Shelvin Mack #7 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the New York Knicks on April 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Shelvin Mack came to Orlando with few expectations. His meager statistics do not reveal the impact of his play and how much he kept things steady.

When the Orlando Magic signed Shelvin Mack, everyone felt a bit confused. The Magic already had their backup point guard — D.J. Augustin was in the second year of a four-year deal paying him $7.3 million per year — and Shelvin Mack was not exactly the young player that could help a growing team.

Mack, at that point, was just a solid backup. Someone who just sort of did his job but did nothing spectacular. It was hardly an impact move. But he will go down as the first free agent of the Jeff Weltman era. An attempt to hit a single, as it were.

The expectations for Mack were admittedly low, to say the least. The only complaint was his $6 million per year salary seemed a bit much. But his second year was nonguaranteed, so what was the harm?

Then what to make of his play this year? How do you quantify a player who is largely unquantifiable? Someone whose impact is not quite captured in statistics.

Mack struggled to find his role early in the season. The Magic’s mismatched roster not giving him the space to succeed. But he slowly found his rhythm. And by the end of the season, Mack’s statistical output was matching his impact.

It was very much more of the same from Mack. He was solid and consistent. That was all the Magic ever asked of him. Mack finished the season strong, seemingly finding his center and his balance in his role as the season went on. Maybe the Magic defined his role better for him and that helped him thrive.

Mack has not secured his future with the team. In fact, he has really only kept up the level of play anyone ever expected from him. No one will confuse him for an option at starter. And his partially guaranteed contract might become too valuable to keep in a trade.

Mack was Mack. A solid, unspectacular player who just did his job night in and night out. And very little more.