Shelvin Mack, debuted for the Jazz on 2/21/16, after a three team trade with Atlanta and Chicago. The Jazz gave up a future first round pick. The catch? The second round pick is the 2018 Denver Nuggets pick. Knowing the track record here, this was a steep price to pay! Realizing that our last Denver first rounders have landed us Gobert and Mitchell, one would have to believe that a Denver second rounder would at least nab you an Al Horford, an Arvydas Sabonis, or a Paul Millsap. Imagine if we had gone onto the open market at the trade deadline telling teams “our last two picks from these guys were future hall-of-famers.”
Shelvin, born in Lexington, Kentucky, (R.I.P. PKM), ended up attending Butler University and played alongside former Jazz SF Gordon Hayward. Long before his arrival to Utah, legend had it that it was really Shelvin who was the leader of that Butler team that was a missed half-court three away from a national championship. I have it on good authority that Hayward was planning to return to Utah until news broke that Mack had signed in Orlando, which caused Hayward to run to the arms of his collegiate safe-space. Apparently Hayward was wanting to finish with Mack what he had started all those years ago.
The Magic, deriving their name from a reference to Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, arrive in Utah to take on the Jazz. Interestingly, the Disney Corporation, displeased with the history and direction of the Magic, is seeking to distance itself from this association and has actually chosen the Jazz as their official franchise, as the entire team and coaching staff are expected to be visiting a Disney park some time in June.
Above: recent additions to Disney World Florida.
The Jazz will also hold a prominent place at Epcot, as Disney has really favored the Jazz international players over the current guys on the Magic squad.
On an unrelated note, and according to Wikipedia, apparently one suggested name for the Orlando franchise back in the 80s was "The Orlando Juice." That one likely would not have aged well. Probably would have aged as well as the Juice himself.
We are currently undefeated when Mike Tyson makes an appearance in the OP of the game thread. Please take a moment to enjoy the beauty of him covering this 80s classic:
Speaking of the Champ, Marreese Speights actually kinda looks like him:
We have some key geographical match-ups going on in this game:
