Washington Wizards Trade Sheldon Mac to Atlanta Hawks
On February 8th, 2018, the Washington Wizards traded guard Sheldon Mac and cash considerations to the Atlanta Hawks for a 2019 second round draft pick. (2019 second round pick is heavily protected and unlikely to convey)
University of Miami product Sheldon Mac had a short run with the Washington Wizards, but a lot of change happened for the guard. He was signed in 2016 as Sheldon McClellan to a contract after not being selected in the 2016 draft. By the time he was traded, his last name was Mac.
Sheldon Mac originally signed a two-year, partially-guaranteed deal with the Washington Wizards as an undrafted rookie right after the draft. The guard turned down offers from teams to be drafted in the second round in turn for playing overseas aka draft and stash.
Mac played in five Las Vegas Summer League games and contributed 2.6 PPG on 26.7% from the field and 1.4 RPG in 12.6 MPG.
He joined the Wizards in training camp for the 2016-17 season and made the roster. Though Mac received a few spot starts, he was largely out of Washington’s rotation. The guard appeared in 30 games and amassed 3.0 PPG, 1.1 RPG and 0.5 APG in 9.6 MPG.
Washington began the 2016-17 season 2-8. They went on to go 32-13 over the next 45 games. Washington ended up fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 49-33 record, the franchise’s most wins since 1979.
Washington matched up with the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round. The Wizards won the first two games of the series at home to take a 2-0 series lead.
In the third game, Hawks forward Paul Millsap had 29 points as the Hawks won 116-98. Atlanta tied the series 2-2 with a 10-point edge. Washington won the final two games of the series to win 4-2.
The Wizards played the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals. Boston took the first two games at home to take a 2-0 series lead.
Washington blew out Boston 116-89 in Game Three and won the fourth game to tie the series 2-2. In Game Five, Boston won 123-101.
Wizards star John Wall knocked down a three with four seconds left to win Game Six. In the seventh and final game, Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas had 29 points and 12 assists, and reserve Kelly Olynyk chipped in 26 points as Boston won 115-105 and captured the series 4-3.
Mac only saw action in garbage time and played in just seven games and 16:51 of action during the playoffs.
In his second Summer League run with the Wizards, Mac played in five games and compiled 13.2 PPG on 56.8% from the field and 3.4 RPG in 22.9 MPG.
Entering training camp with the Wizards, the guard tore his left achilles tendon in a preseason game. The injury kept the guard out for 6-8 months which meant he would likely miss the entire season and that his contract was fully-guaranteed.
By the time the trade deadline had arrived, the Wizards were looking to create an extra roster spot and also cut some of their luxury tax bill. Mac was the obvious choice to go as the Wizards dealt him at the deadline to the Atlanta Hawks for a heavily protected second round pick that was unlikely to convey.
The Hawks waived Mac on the same day of the trade. The draft pick the Hawks sent for Mac was heavily protected and never came to the Wizards.
Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk on the Hawks’ trade deadline priorities (via Michael Cunningham):
“We think cap space will be very valuable this summer, especially based on the way the deadline went.”
Image via Matt Slocum/AP
