Orlando Magic feel comfortable with point guard situation

Orlando Magic fans have been quick to lambast the team’s situation at point guard. But everyone in the organization feels confident in their ability to play

Orlando Magic fans were frustrated throughout the summer.

The Draft played out in a way that left the elite point guard — Trae Young — out of their reach and gave the team few options to upgrade the point guard position. There were opportunities in free agency to grab someone new but nothing ever truly materialized. Orlando stayed quiet and seemed content to go with D.J. Augustin as the team’s starting point guard.

The Magic added two other point guards in Jerian Grant and Isaiah Briscoe. But both are relatively unproven players. D.J. Augustin is the consistent one in the bunch and the veteran.

Still, the noise about his position is an obsession for Magic fans. It may still be one as the team puts things together. But Augustin is having none of it.

"“I don’t read that stuff, to be honest with you,” Augustin said. “I have had doubters my whole life. I’m 5-11, 11 years in the NBA. I don’t listen to it obviously.”"

Augustin has carved out a solid and long career in the NBA — 10.2 points per game and a staggering 55.7 percent effective field goal percentage last year. He was a sporadic starter all throughout last year with the injury to Elfrid Payton early in the season and then his eventual trade. He was more than solid when he played the starter role — averaging 11.7 points and 5.0 assists per game as a starter with a 56.1 percent effective field goal percentage.

President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman was quick to defend D.J. Augustin throughout media day.

He cited Augustin had one of the best pull-up shooting marks in the league last year among point guards. Among guards who averaged at least 20.0 minutes per game and appeared in at least 41 games, Augustin was eighth in the league with a 55.0 percent effective field goal percentage on pull-up opportunities according to NBA.com’s player tracking stats. He shot a robust 39.7 percent from three on such opportunities.

And Augustin’s 61.5 percent true shooting percentage (which also accounts for his free-throw shooting) was 22nd best in the entire league among players who averaged at least 20 minutes per game and appeared in 41 games or more. He ranked eighth in the league among guards according to NBA.com, better than J.J. Redick and Kyrie Irving.

Weltman also cited the team’s stronger defensive performance with Augustin on the court. Last year, Orlando had a 105.5 defensive rating with Augustin on the floor, nearly two points per 100 possession better than their season average. This cannot be directly attributed to Augustin’s defense (Payton was on the floor for some of the Magic’s worst defensive lineups).

But it signals the team feels a lot more comfortable with Augustin at point guard than perhaps fans might at this time.

"“You start with the person,” Weltman said. “D.J. is an incredible person. He is detailed, he is work oriented, he is team first. He is just the definition of professional. Before you even start the conversation, he has established trust. Coaches trust him, staff trust him, players trust him and so you start there.”"

Trust was a big word for several Magic representatives when they talked about Augustin. Part of the reason the Magic did not have an urgency to acquire a new point guard. If no better option presented itself, they seemed more than comfortable sticking with a player they know and trust.

There is still room for criticism. As good as Augustin’s numbers seem to point out, he has struggled to play consistently year to year.

The running analysis of Augustin is that he follows a good year with a bad year throughout his career. He has not shot better than a 50-percent effective field goal percentage in consecutive years at any point in his career nor has he shot better than a 40-percent overall field goal percentage at any point in his career.

Some of this might have to do with Augustin constantly changing teams. His now three-year run with the Orlando Magic is the longest he has spent with one team since his rookie contract with the Charlotte Bobcats. Changing coaches once again is probably not going to help Augustin with consistency.

But that consistent presence is what the Magic value most from Augustin. If the team did not have faith that Augustin could serve the team’s ultimate purposes for this season, they would have looked elsewhere.

"“I would say any position it just depends on the guy,” coach Steve Clifford said after Wednesday’s practice. “D.J. is easy. D.J. just gets it. D.J. is detailed, D.J. is skilled, D.J. knows how he has to play. He understands where his teammates need the ball in order to play well. He’s just a pro point guard. The other two guys are not as experienced but they both have things that they are very good at.”"

The Magic did not make some big splashy point guard move as they might have had the opportunity to do. It may still be fair to say the Magic have to answer some questions at point guard.

Players like Jerian Grant and Isaiah Briscoe bring different skill sets to the position. They have the size and length the team seems to prefer. But both are unproven at the NBA level. They will have to earn everything on the court.

That seems to be how all three guards all are approaching this position.

But what is more important is that confidence Weltman and later on Clifford described in Augustin. They believe Augustin will be able to rise to the occasion.

But more importantly, his teammates do too.

"“People and the fans are really hard,” Evan Fournier said. “People act like D.J. is not good. It’s disrespectful to say that. He’s an 11-year veteran, knows how to play, had a great season in this league, great shooter and a great teammate. I love playing with D.J. We all do. I have confidence in him.”"

Augustin said at media day he does not feel like he has won the starting job. He has been through the NBA ringer enough to know that nothing in this league is guaranteed. And Augustin has seen just how up and down his own play can be.

Augustin seems the safe bet to hold down the starting spot though. Jerian Grant compared D.J. Augustin’s basketball intelligence to his former teammate Rajon Rondo. He said Augustin knows how to use his size well and put players in the right spots. Grant said he is learning a lot from watching Augustin prepare.

Orlando may not have the most talent at the position, but the team seems fully comfortable with who it has this year. And the Magic seem confident they can deliver and help them achieve their goals.