Orlando Magic: 2018-19 player grade for D.J. Augustin

Weaknesses

It might be unfair to point out something that we all know to be true, but D.J. Augustin is not a star. As such it is interesting to think about how good the Orlando Magic could have been with another veteran point guard running the show instead (somebody like Kyle Lowry or Mike Conley).

Augustin has every right to feel aggrieved by this way of thinking; he was asked to step into the biggest role of his career since his formative years with the then-Charlotte Bobcats, and he exceeded expectations. His Player Efficiency Rating of 15.7 (league average 15), was pedestrian, but the 5.3 assists he averaged per game was a team high.

We may look back on this time in the Magic’s growth and think of it as a pivotal time. Had they had a younger point guard to pair with their core already in place, they would have grown together. Instead that court time was given to a 31-year-old who has already reached his max potential as a player.

For somebody who was lights out from deep and crafty around the basket, while playing 28 minutes a night, his most in five years, it is also fair to expect more than 11.7 points per game. Had Augustin been able to give more, the Magic would have won some of the closer games they were a part of.

They were a part of 47 games where one team was up by five points or less with five minutes to go during the regular season, the second highest amount in the league. They went a credible 22-25 in those games, but Augustin’s scoring in particular could have swung a couple of those in their favour.

The Magic also struggled against lesser teams, and in theory these should have been the occasions when Augustin was using his veteran skills to help knock off what where mostly younger outfits. So while his consistency was key, turning it up from time to time wouldn’t have gone amiss either.