He’s really physically strong,” Lindsey said of the stocky 203-pounder. “We felt like he’s a good complement both to the culture and to our actual playing group. – Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey
SALT LAKE CITY — In the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, rumors swirled about the possibility of the Utah Jazz acquiring a point guard from the Atlanta Hawks.
On Thursday, the Jazz did just that.
It just wasn’t the point guard everybody was talking about.
Instead of trading for veteran Jeff Teague — or the younger Dennis Schroder — Utah acquired former Butler guard Shelvin Mack in a three-way trade with the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.
"We’re very excited about this acquisition," Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said.
One big reason? Utah didn't have to say goodbye to a player to pick up another, Lindsey pointed out.
The Jazz will send a 2018 second-round pick to Chicago in exchange for Mack, a 6-foot-3 guard. The Hawks, meanwhile, shipped guard Justin Holiday to Chicago and will receive veteran sharpshooter Kirk Hinrich.
Lindsey said the Jazz like Mack’s experience (five NBA seasons), toughness, character and ability to play multiple positions, including the point guard and shooting guard spots.
“He’s really physically strong,” Lindsey said of the stocky 203-pounder. “We felt like he’s a good complement both to the culture and to our actual playing group.”
Pending a physical, Mack could don a Jazz uniform for the first time on Friday night when Utah hosts Boston in an ESPN-televised game.
That would bring about a fun Butler reunion, considering Mack is reuniting with old Bulldog teammate Gordon Hayward and how the Jazz are facing the Celtics, who are coached by Brad Stevens, their college coach. If it happens, the get-together would take place in the arena where Butler advanced to the Final Four in the 2010 NCAA tournament, to boot.
Mack will also be reunited with Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who was an assistant in Atlanta during the 2013-14 season.
That fact played a role in the Jazz pulling off this trade for a third healthy point guard, something the team has mostly been without since Dante Exum’s knee injury last summer.
“We have very good corporate knowledge of Shelvin,” Lindsey said. “Quin was a big proponent of this acquisition.”
The Jazz run a somewhat similar system as the Hawks, so Utah is also optimistic that Mack will acclimate quickly to the schemes, tactics and verbage, Lindsey said.
Mack also received “a quite glowing” endorsement from former Hawks GM Danny Ferry, who told Lindsey that he’s a versatile guard whose “a really tough guy” but who has “a high character” and can shoot the ball.
However, Mack has struggled from the field this season. He’s shooting 42.1 percent overall and has hit only four of 27 3-pointers while averaging 3.9 points and 1.6 assists in limited action (7.5 minutes per game in 24 appearances).
The 25-year-old guard had his best NBA season with Snyder in Atlanta, averaging 7.5 points on 40.1 percent shooting (31.5 percent from 3-point land) with 3.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds.
Lindsey said it will be up to Snyder on how Mack fits in with the current Jazz rotation. Utah’s point guard play has been one of its weak links this season, but rookie starter Raul Neto has steadily improved and Trey Burke has been a consistent offensive spark plug off the bench.
It’s possible Mack could fill in some shooting guard minutes in Alec Burks’ absence. Burks has been progressing and could return to the lineup in the next couple of weeks if all goes well.
“This was really a needs-based acquisition,” Lindsey said. “Quin’s going to have to make some decisions, but that’s what the head coach is paid to do. He communicates effectively. We expect our group to continue to be tight-knit and have a high level of chemistry.”
That includes Burke, who was the subject of many trade rumors. Lindsey was asked if it would be awkward to have the third-year point guard remain in Utah after all of the speculation leading up to the deadline and responded, “Not at all.”
Lindsey wouldn’t comment on a report that claimed the Jazz told the Burke camp that he would be traded. Burke’s parents, Benji (also his agent) and Rhonda, have both suggested on social media that they aren’t pleased with their son’s treatment by the Jazz.
Trey Burke has maintained a level of professionalism throughout the season.
Lindsey said the Jazz like who they have as a group for a final two-month push toward the playoffs.
“We’re going to be as tough and as smart and as committed and together as we can be on a daily basis,” Lindsey said. “If we take care of that, we’re very comfortable with where we are at and where we can go.”
Lindsey said the Jazz market “knows what we’ve started here,” and the team feels good with where it’s at especially in light of the considerable injuries to key players that the GM admitted left Utah shorthanded.
“It’s safe to say our roster, our young guys, have performed well,” Lindsey said. “The team’s trending in the right direction.”
Other GMs have noticed, too. Lindsey said the Jazz received inquiries about every player on their roster leading up to the trade deadline.
Utah, however, wants to continue to let its young core grow together. The addition of Mack, who has a nonguaranteed year left on his contract, will give the team even more depth as it begins a grueling stretch that includes 30 games in 58 days.
"We clearly had some room under the cap and a roster spot," Lindsey said. "We have a daunting schedule, not only strength of schedule but also the number of games to be played. This last stretch is going to be all hands on deck."
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