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2018-19 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: D.J. Augustin

By Philip Rossman-Reich

D.J. Augustin does very little flashy and that is what a young team needs to breakthrough. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
D.J. Augustin does very little flashy and that is what a young team needs to breakthrough. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 09: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic drives around Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on February 09, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic entered the year with questions at point guard. D.J. Augustin provided stability and consistency the team needed and calmed the question.

Every article said the same thing before the season. The Orlando Magic had one of the worst point guard situations in the league and one of the worst starting point guards in the league.

Whenever a point guard popped up on the trade market, the Magic were immediately brought up. That includes the player they eventually acquired in Markelle Fultz.

For the last year, everyone has focused on improving the point guard position. Every second guessed move in the draft or free agency — from failing to move up for Trae Young to passing on Isaiah Thomas — had to revolve around this position.

The Magic stood still. They even went off the board with their backups to go with unproven Isaiah Briscoe and the uneven Jerian Grant.

D.J. Augustin could have heard all that noise and taken it as an insult. There were a few backhanded compliments sent his way too — the old, he is a perfect backup, but not good enough to be the starter.

D.J. Augustin was always asked about this noise from the outside and dismissed it just as quickly. He was the veteran on the team. He has played and prepared the same way throughout. He knows what he has to do.

But Augustin had very rarely put together good years back to back. He had very rarely been with the same organization for consecutive years. Consistency had eluded him.

Until this year.

Augustin was one of the most consistent heartbeats for the team, able to get the team into their sets and spread the floor with his shooting. He was one of the few players who could drive into the lane off the dribble and work his way through to free up teammates.

Augustin was fearless and patient throughout the entire season. He was the ringleader making everything work, putting together one of the best overall seasons of his career.

The Magic had a reason not to address the point guard position in the offseason. They felt extremely comfortable with him and what he could bring. It is just consistency more than anything else. He was not prone to wild swings of play or would falter in many ways.

The Magic’s point guard situation still is not the best in the league. But Orlando made the most of it. Augustin made the most of it. And the Magic are not likely to feel a ton of pressure to improve it. If Augustin starts again next year, the team will be more than comfortable with it.

It was a season where the Magic got steady and consistent from the point guard position and that was more than enough.