Backup point guard Shelvin Mack will be re-signing with the Atlanta Hawks after the two sides reached an agreement on a three-year deal Friday.
The contract is valued at $7.3 million and has a team option for the third year, keeping with General Manager Danny Ferry’s mantra of ensuring financial flexibility for the team.
Mack was a restricted free-agent heading into this offseason, meaning the Hawks could match any offer given to the point guard. He played well for Atlanta last season, averaging 7.5 points and 3.7 assists per game.
The new contract agreement comes as no surprise due to Mack’s excellent play with the team last season and his status as a restricted free-agent.
Sir Charles In Charge
Mack becomes the third point guard on the roster for the Hawks with this signing. And this is where things begin to get interesting.
Shelvin earned the role as the team’s backup last season, but with the breakout play of Dennis Schröeder during Summer League, that role could come into question.
Schröder played excellent, putting up 15.7 points and 3.3 assists per game in six Summer League games. He primed himself for big minutes in the desert and figures to get that playing time considering his room for growth.
Of course, there’s also the steadily improving Jeff Teague on the roster as the starting point guard.
Teague put up his best scoring numbers in his career this past season, averaging 16.5 points per game, and continued to excel as a distributor averaging 6.7 assists throughout the year.
Mack’s return to Atlanta will most likely result in player movement for the Hawks at the point guard position.
Minutes could be at a premium for the Hawks point guards, which could mean a trade could be in the works.
Mack’s new deal is a hefty sum for someone who could be a third-string point guard. With the Atlanta Hawks signing Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha, Mack, who is considered a combo guard, could see his minutes further diminished as a result.
If any of the Atlanta point guards get moved, expect it to be Jeff Teague. While he has improved every year, Teague is the highest paid of the three point guards at $8 million per year. He is also on the books for three more years, which could be a detractor for him as it’s well known Ferry likes having funds available rather than tied up.
With Schröder’s improvement along with Mack’s good play, it is believed that if Teague is moved, the two guards together could provide similar production to what Teague offered.
The Atlanta Hawks are in need of solid player at small forward; if Teague is moved, a wing player could be the asking price.
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If Teague is not moved, expect Schröeder’s days in Atlanta to be numbered.
Schröder would either see himself moved to another team or spend time with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Atlanta Hawks D-League affiliate. Schröder’s great performance in the Summer League deserves minutes, and he will get them this season — one way or another.
Mack’s return to Atlanta will most likely result in player movement for the Hawks at the point guard position. It is tough to see the three guards being able to receive the minutes they deserve, especially with the signings of Bazemore and Sefolosha.
While the return of Mack doesn’t necessarily mean the end of all three guards within the Hawks organization, it will be necessary to make some changes to allow the proper minutes to be given to each player.
What do you think the Shelvin Mack signing means for the Atlanta Hawks? Lets us know in the comments!
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