This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Jazz will keep point guard Shelvin Mack on the roster past Thursday, thus guaranteeing the final year of his $2.4 million dollar contract, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.
Badly needing point guard help, the Jazz traded for Mack at February's deadline, sending a second round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Given the opportunity to start in Utah — Mack was the third point guard with the Hawks — he shined, averaging 12.7 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game, including 27 starts.
Ultimately, Mack playing as well as he did made him too valuable a commodity to part ways with. The Jazz keeping Mack means they will enter the season with four point guards on the roster. George Hill projects as the starter, while Dante Exum, Mack and Raul Neto, who started a chunk of games last season as a rookie, will compete for backup minutes.
At the very least, Mack offers quality depth at a spot where the Jazz had precious little a season ago. Mack is entering his sixth season. He played collegiately at Butler University with Jazz star small forward Gordon Hayward.
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Shelvin Mack
Is with his fourth team in six professional seasons
Averaged career-highs in points, rebounds and assists with the Jazz
Started a career-high 27 games