NBA Free Agency: Orlando Magic Agrees To Terms With DJ Augustin


Having an experienced point guard playing behind a young point guard is a move that is common in the NBA. ESPN is reporting that the Orlando Magic have agreed to terms with DJ Augustin. The 28-year-old will be providing minutes and much needed guidance behind starting point guard Elfrid Payton.

Having coached the Indiana Pacers, Frank Vogel has a good idea of how things are done in the NBA. He understood that he was inheriting a young roster when he signed on to become the new head coach of the Orlando Magic. Management is trying to secure more of a veteran presence to help out Vogel.

Elfrid Payton is just 22 years old. Though he’s been in the NBA for two seasons now, he still needs help learning the ways of the game. Payton has a tremendous amount of potential and talent, so he could become a star in the National Basketball Association with the right amount of guidance.

Last season, DJ Augustin played for two teams in the NBA. He was initially with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he was traded to the Denver Nuggets during the trade deadline. Augustin showed some spark for the Nuggets, so his valued increased just in time for free agency.

Not wanting to move around the NBA, DJ Augustin was looking for a team that he could call home for a good period of time. According to Yahoo! Sports, Augustin signed a four-year deal with the Orlando Magic. Financial terms were not immediately released.

DJ Augustin will have at least one familiar face with the Orlando Magic. The team recently acquired Serge Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Augustin was his teammate. The power forward had been looking for a bigger role, but Oklahoma City could not offer him that with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant around.

Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka [Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
Since Serge Ibaka is expected to become a big part of the Orlando Magic offense, there may be stretches where DJ Augustin gets starter minutes because he already has chemistry with the 6’10” power forward. Frank Vogel could design some pick and roll plays for Augustin and Ibaka.

There also could be times where DJ Augustin gets to be on the court at the same time as Elfrid Payton. Though both players aren’t taller than 6’3″, NBA teams often times are going with smaller lineups, so it shouldn’t be much of a defensive liability for Augustin and Payton.

Frank Vogel and DJ Augustin were quite acquainted with one another when the latter played for the former with the Indiana Pacers, according to the Orlando Sentinel. That makes it a whole lot easier for Vogel to figure out how Augustin is going to fit in with his plans.

Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel
Frank Vogel [Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images]
DJ Augustin is a well-traveled player. In his nine seasons in the NBA, he has already played for eight teams. Augustin has been with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, and Charlotte Hornets.

Last season, DJ Augustin shot better than 40 percent from the three-point line, according to ESPN. Now that he has improved his shooting range, it should be easier for him to remain with a single team in the NBA. Augustin is hoping that the Orlando Magic will be home for a while.

Though he is not considered a first tier player in the NBA, DJ Augustin managed to become one of the first players to be signed in free agency. He knew where he wanted to play, so he didn’t bother taking a lot of meetings.

[Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images]

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