Orlando Magic release Shelvin Mack: Potential replacements
By Jean Racine
The Orlando Magic released Shelvin Mack on Monday, saving some money in the process. But it also leaves the team hunting for a point guard in free agency.
The Orlando Magic announced the release of Shelvin Mack on Monday afternoon. The move saves the team $5 million. Mack was due $6 million for the 2019 season if the Magic did not cut ties with the seven-year NBA veteran on Monday. He originally signed a two-year, $12-million deal last summer.
Mack has career averages of 6.4 points per game and 3.1 assists. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 assists per game for the Magic last season. Shelvin Mack finished the season as the team’s leader in assists — with Elfrid Payton traded at the deadline.
This move means D.J Augustin is the only point guard on the Magic’s roster. After passing on a point guard in the NBA Draft, the Magic are officially in the market for a new lead guard. Letting the veteran Mack walk in a summer when the team has very few financial assets to use signals the team will address the point guard position in some way this offseason.
Orlando can choose to address its point guard point need via trade or free agency.
Dennis Schroder is presumed to be on the trading block after the Atlanta Hawks drafted Trae Young in the 2018 NBA Draft last week. Schroder is a proven scorer. He averaged 19.4 points per game for the Hawks last season. Schroder boasts career averages of 17.9 points and 6.3 assists a contest.
An intriguing free agent guard prospect is Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 16.7 points and 3.0 assists per game in 24 games last season after returning from a torn ACL. Before the ACL injury, he averaged 18.9 points per game and shot 38 percent from three on 5.6 attempts per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Magic passed on LaVine in the 2014 NBA Draft and moved up to pick Elfrid Payton.
LaVine, however is a restricted free agent and the Bulls can match any offer sheet. Although there is some reporting they may not match every offer as previously expected.
Another free agent that fits the profile of a scoring lead guard is the Los Angeles Lakers’ Isaiah Thomas. Even with a bad hip last season, he averaged 15.2 points per game in 26.9 minutes per game through 32 games. Thomas is still recovering from the hip injury he suffered in the 2017 NBA playoffs with the Boston Celtics. But he would be a more than suitable replacement for Mack.
The Orlando Magic could also go the trade route and try to acquire Eric Bledsoe or Matthew Dellavedova from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks reportedly were shopping both at the NBA Draft. Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points per game with a 53.6 percent effective field goal percentage last season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. Dellavedova averaged 4.3 points per game and 3.8 assists per game last year.
A darkhorse candidate to replace Shelvin Mack is Utah Jazz restricted free agent Dante Exum. He has the positional length and versatility the Magic’s front office crave. At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Exum still has a high ceiling after battling injuries in his four years with the Jazz.
He averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 assists and shot 31 percent from three in 16. 8 minutes per game last season. Exum can definitely use a fresh start. He would be a great fit with the Magic’s current roster.
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There are certainly some options for the Magic to explore. Orlando will now look for a point guard to replace Mack’s minutes and help the team grow and progress.