Grizzlies, Mack officially agree to deal

The Grizzlies have officially agreed to a deal with point guard Shelvin Mack, an NBA veteran most recently with the Orlando Magic. The deal is for one year and is fully guaranteed at the league minimum.

Mack’s signing brings the Grizzlies to 16 players on their roster, one more than allowed in the beginning of the regular season. He joins a suddenly crowded backcourt, including Mike Conley, second-round pick Jevon Carter, Andrew Harrison, and twoway player Kobi Simmons (though Simmons doesn’t count against the Grizzlies roster number as a two-way player). Harrison’s contract, for roster purposes, is only partially guaranteed until Jan. 10.

“We just thought he was a good veteran player who can give us some insurance in the backcourt,” Grizzlies Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Hollinger told the Commercial Appeal. “You can slide Shelvin around (defensively) and you still aren’t locked in to a bunch of one-position guys at the point guard spot.”

Mack is considered another solid locker room presence, a common theme among Grizzlies acquisitions this offseason.

He was part of the Orlando Magic team last year that coincidentally featured now-Grizzlies assistant Chad Forcier as part of their coaching staff. Mack was lauded for his willingness to mentor young players like Jonathan Isaac, and now he can do do the same with Grizzlies blue-chip prospect Jaren Jackson Jr, among others.

Mack, in his eighth season, played in 69 games (three starts) with the Magic last season, playing 19.8 minutes per game. Mack first backed up point guard Elfrid Payton before Payton was traded to Phoenix, which allowed D.J. Augustin to earn the starting spot.