3:38pm: The Grizzlies have officially signed Mack, the team announced today in a press release.
1:58pm: The Grizzlies will sign free agent point guard Shelvin Mack to a one-year contract, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Wojnarowski first reported about two and a half weeks ago that the two sides were discussing a one-year deal.
Mack, who inked a two-year contract with Orlando in 2017, appeared in 69 games for the Magic last season, averaging 6.9 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 2.4 RPG in a backup point guard role. His salary for 2018/19 only included a small partial guarantee though, so the Magic waived him last month before they were on the hook for the full amount.
By signing Mack, the Grizzlies will add some veteran stability to their point guard depth chart behind Mike Conley, who is coming off a major foot injury. Andrew Harrison and Jevon Carter are Memphis’ other point guards, with Kobi Simmons also in the mix on a two-way deal.
Memphis doesn’t have its bi-annual exception available this season and already used its full mid-level exception on Kyle Anderson, so Mack will receive a minimum-salary deal, which will keep the Grizzlies’ team salary just below the tax line.
Assuming Mack’s contract is guaranteed, it’ll be the 15th guaranteed deal on the team’s books, plus Harrison’s non-guaranteed salary. The Grizzlies will have to trade or release at least one player before the regular season begins, with Harrison and Dakari Johnson among those most at risk.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Did you know Brad Stevens was his coach at Butler and Gordon Hayward was his teammate? When they reached the NCAA championship game against Duke, Danny Ainge sat with Dick Vitale. Ainge told him, “there is the best coach in America.” Vitale said Coach K? Ainge said no, Brad Stevens. So Ainge hired him.
Butler lost in the championship 2 seasons in a row. That’s why Gordon Hayward left Utah and went to Boston. He told Stevens we will get our championship. At Butler Stevens had guys sitting behind the bench tracking every kind of number you can think of. Hayward was a little known recruit from Indianapolis. Two seasons later they were playing for the National Championship. I’ll root for Boston all day!
Besides finding Stevens to coach the Celtics, Ainge has done a remarkable job balancing youth and veterans trying to keep the salaries in check. Before signing Horford and Hayward, Boston fans wanted him fired for hoarding draft picks and not signing any big name free agents. Ainge tried to get Jimmy Butler and Paul George. If Ainge were to get Butler, he would have a weak bench like OKC to go along with a whopper payroll (Irving, Horford, Hayward, Butler, and a rookie contract with Tatum). I don’t think he’ll do it. He was willing to give up next years Sacramento pick, along with the Memphis pick, Clippers pick, and their own for Kawhi. But he wouldn’t include Brown or Tatum. He wouldn’t include Brown in the Paul George trade either. Ainge may be the shrewdest general manager in the league now.
Then he should trade Kyrie before he walks for nothing next summer, right?
Kyrie told you that right. I read an article yesterday saying Kyrie hasn’t spoken about free agency. Kyrie can make $180MM in Boston along with playing for the best team in the east for the next several years, ala. what Cleveland did. Anybody else can only offer $139MM with no Finals to go with it. Boston has been preparing for this. They’ve said they are willing to spend the money to keep all their guys. Kyrie is doing what LeBron did. If you don’t hear it from him, don’t believe it. Kyrie loves Boston and Brad Stevens.