Orlando Magic guard D.J. Augustin playing past everyone’s doubts

It feels like many want to replace D.J. Augustin as quickly as possible. But the point guard has provided the necessary stability for the Orlando Magic.

The Orlando Magic season began with doubt at point guard.

In many preseason position rankings, the Magic’s point guard situation was rated the worst in the entire league. Even more than the Phoenix Suns who are essentially playing Devin Booker as their point guard.

When it comes to trade discussions and the future of the team, point guard is still at the center of everything. Everyone is figuring out how the Magic could acquire a true starting-caliber or promising young point guard — a Lonzo Ball, Spencer Dinwiddie, D’Angelo Russell or Markelle Fultz, for instance. Those are the idle dreams of the team and something they hope is the next step in this rebuild.

All that ignores what the Magic already have and one of the biggest keys to the team’s surprising start to the season — and relative consistency.

At the end of a grinder of a game against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, D.J. Augustin stepped up in the one way most observers would say is his biggest deficit.

With the game tied and the Magic needing a stop after a turnover, D.J. Augustin got in front of Kris Dunn and drew a big charge. Augustin was all over the place defensively throughout the entire game. As much as Nikola Vucevic carried the team, D.J. Augustin made several key plays to help the team get to the finish line.

That has been the way Augustin has played all season long. Consistent, balanced and dependable. Almost always.

The veteran guard — the oldest player in the rotation — is averaging 10.3 points per game and dishing out 5.0 assists per game while shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the arc and a 55.5 percent effective field goal percentage. His shooting numbers are in line with last year’s strong season from the veteran guard.

These are not overly impressive numbers. But that is all the Magic need from him. Some games Augustin provides more. Others he provides less. But Augustin rarely makes many mistakes.

His impact goes beyond those numbers.

The Magic have a 108.7 offensive rating with Augustin on the floor, the best of any player. They also have a +2.6 net rating with D.J. Augustin on the floor with only Nikola Vucevic’s on-court mark being better.

It may have a lot to do with Jerian Grant and some of his struggles in his first year with the Magic, but the difference when D.J. Augustin is on the floor compared to off are pretty stark. Orlando has a 95.6 offensive rating with Augustin off the floor and a -9.9 net rating overall.

The Magic’s bench lineups have not been exactly successful. And these kinds of numbers show both how much these groups have struggled and how much the Magic have come to rely on Vucevic and Augustin.

That should not take anything away from what Augustin has done. For a team that lacks a lot offensively, Augustin’s ability to spread the floor and get the Magic into their offense is valuable. He sets the Magic on the right path.

Yet, there is still a lot of the focus on what Augustin cannot do.

He is not a great driver and creator. While he limits his mistakes — just 1.2 turnovers per game and his 4.15 assist-to-turnover ratio leads all players who play at least 25 minutes per game — he is not someone that will create a lot of offense on his own. Not all the time, at least.

Defensively, Augustin is not the best guard. He has struggled to contain some of the elite guards in the league — think Damian Lillard‘s pair of 40-point games. He still has a -2.7 defensive box plus-minus.

Augustin was never a strong defender and the Magic use their offense in his lineups to overcome some pretty average defense.

The Magic seemingly in not pursuing a point guard this offseason felt comfortable with this exact stability and this exact kind of production. Orlando did not seemingly want to rock the boat in that way, valuing these traits over a splashy move.

These criticisms have followed Augustin throughout his career and certainly in his time with Orlando. Even though his offense has been strong and vital to the Magic’s offensive success.

That has not stopped anyone from longing for more with Augustin.

Last week, Augustin told Chris Hays of The Orlando Sentinel he has used the negativity around him to fuel his play.

He never is out of control but he is not one to make a true impact. Augustin’s 15.7 percent usage rate suggests he is not the main creator for the team. He gets the Magic into their offense and leaves it to others to create and generate the offense.

That definitely leaves something wanting.

With the trade market opening, the Magic are surely going to look for an upgrade. It feels like this is still the number one priority for the offseason and the trade market.

Orlando Magic

Already, the trade market is opening up. Dave Early of Liberty Ballers reports the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are among the teams inquiring about Fultz. The Brooklyn Nets’ decision to extend Dinwiddie’s contract seemingly puts Russell’s status with the team in the air some. Russell will become a free agent this offseason.

These will not be the first or the last point guards the Magic are going to get connected to before the end of the trade market.

Augustin might still end up being best as a backup point guard for the team. That might be his ideal role. And the Magic finding a new point guard would not preclude them from still using Augustin off the bench.

Knowing Augustin, he would still perform his current role with the same efficiency and consistency. That is Augustin’s role and confidence in performing it. It does not matter if the team scales up or down his minutes.

The Magic have been better because Augustin is playing and playing so well. Even with everyone seemingly doubting his credentials, Augustin has proven himself vital to the team.