2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: D.J. Augustin

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D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic, Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 29: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic defends during the second half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on January 29, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

What Could Go Wrong

Essentially the Magic’s big fear — and the bet they hedged against in signing Shelvin Mack — is for D.J. Augustin to have the same year he had last year. What the Magic got from Augustin last year was not what the Magic signed up for or hoped for from him.

Augustin was inconsistent as a shooter and did not make any plays. The Magic had one of the worst bench units in the league, so it is hard to say whether he even managed the game effectively enough.

So all the things the Magic supposedly signed him to do as the backup point guard did not pan out.

Maybe the issue was the players around him. There were no other playmakers for support — let alone quality shooters. Bismack Biyombo was fine for what he was. But Jeff Green, Mario Hezonja and C.J. Watson are not exactly inspiring confidence or creating much for others. Jodie Meeks‘ presence was about the only thing that could create space.

The Magic’s bench surely will not be so bad.

That was the point of the Magic’s whole offseason. So if D.J. Augustin is playing with better options around him, guys who can space the floor better like Arron Afflalo or Marreese Speights and maybe cover up some of his defensive mistakes like Jonathan Isaac and Bismack Biyombo, maybe that will get D.J. Augustin back on track. Maybe that will give him the space to create or enable him to work more as a spot-up shooter.

None of this seems particularly clear. The Magic saw last year what Augustin looks like when he is at his worst. That forced them to search for his potential replacement at backup point guard. A repeat of that and a further decline would make that initial investment very bad.