2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: D.J. Augustin

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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 13: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 13, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

D.J. Augustin will be the lead guy in the much-debated point guard position for the Orlando Magic. The Magic clearly value his consistency as they move on.

Your disdain is not D.J. Augustin’s fault. That should be made clear before this season starts.

Inevitably frustration over the Orlando Magic’s dismal point guard situation is going to boil over. Rankings from around the Internet, including Hoops Habit, consistently rank the Magic as having the worst point guard situation in the league and probably the worst full-time starter.

Again, none of this is Augustin’s fault. Anger at him is certainly misplaced. Especially considering how well Augustin played last year, in particular as the team’s starter. And Augustin is going to plod along and do his job. As the veteran on a still young team, Augustin’s consistency has a lot of value.

Like Nikola Vucevic at center, D.J. Augustin has some clear limitations and is not a likely long-term option. Like Nikola Vucevic, D.J. Augustin is not a great defender nor good at the things point guard have to be good at defensively. And maybe not even offensively. But he can still be at least effective and productive.

The Magic simply have no other options. Or certainly no better options. His consistency and level-headedness are enough to get him by with this group. And that is really all the Magic want out of Augustin overall. Maybe that is what they need.

The point guard position is a problem for the Magic, there is no getting around it. Augustin’s job is simply to hold the ship steady. He is there not to take away from anyone else and manage the team as the steady-handed veteran.

That is a critical role. The Magic opted to stick with Augustin perhaps for that reason. They certainly had some opportunities to add a point guard to the roster and shore up that position. But Orlando is thinking for the long-term and decided not to tie up any money or take possessions away from key players.

Augustin can and will do that. He will not demand the ball. He will run the team efficiently and effectively. That is all the Magic could ask for from Augustin, even if ultimately they will need and want more.