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2019 Orlando Magic: 5 questions for the second quarter of the season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Aaron Gordon #00 helps up Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 4, 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)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Aaron Gordon #00 helps up Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 4, 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) /
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Jerian Grant, Orlando Magic
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Jerian Grant #22 of the Orlando Magic passes the ball against the Boston Celtics on October 22, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Will the Orlando Magic’s point guard play kill them in the end?

The biggest weakness facing the Orlando Magic entering the season was at point guard. To many, the Magic had one of the worst point guard rotations in the league. D.J. Augustin was a solid and established veteran, but hardly a starter. And Jerian Grant was on the third team trying to figure out what he is in the NBA.

The Magic’s long-term point guard questions are not answered. There is probably very little that can answer them this year without a change. That supposed “point guard of the future” is not likely on the roster yet.

But the Magic have gotten solid play from D.J. Augustin in the first quarter of the season. More than serviceable, actually.

Augustin averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 assists per game against 1.1 turnovers per game. He shot 43.6 percent from beyond the arc (the majority of his shots were 3-pointers). Augustin may not be a huge difference-maker defensively, but he does not play outside of himself. He does whatever the team needs and plays his game effectively.

More than that, Augustin posted the best on-court net rating for the Magic among their rotation players at +3.1 points per 100 possessions. If Nikola Vucevic was the Magic’s most valuable player, D.J. Augustin was likely the second most important.

Augustin continues to provide a consistent level of play. He brings balance to the team and keeps the team running smoothly. There is little to complain about with him.

But Jerian Grant has struggled. Through the first quarter of the season, he is averaging 4.4 points per game while shooting less than 40 percent from the field overall and dishing out 3.5 assists per game. Grant has really struggled.

While the team is at its best with Augustin on the floor, it is at its worst with Grant on the floor. The Magic had a -11.2 net rating with Grant on the floor in the first quarter of the season, scoring just 96.3 points per 100 possessions.

It might be unfair to pin all the bench unit’s struggles to score completely on Grant and his play. But he has undoubtedly struggled to keep the offense humming. The Magic have had several players disappoint, but it feels like no one has fallen as short as Grant to hit those expectations.

The lack of point guard depth was seen as a problem in the preseason and it still feels like a major one. If the Magic were to make a move to solidify their Playoff positioning, it feels like going after a backup point guard in the trade market — or thinking bigger and getting a guard that would push Augustin into this bench role — would be the move to make.

But that is not until February. Long into the season and long into the point where the magic will know if they are still in the hunt or not. The Magic’s bench unit is the one holding the team back at the moment.

Just how the Magic manage and stagger their lineups to try to lessen this blow very well could determine their Playoff hopes as the season continues.

dark. Next. Orlando Magic feel they are coming together

What questions do you have for the second quarter of the season? Let us know in the comments below or online @omagicdaily.