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

Final grade

This was a career year for D.J. Augustin, who showed time and again that he was the right man for the Magic in that particular moment in their growth. His belief in his teammates was great to see as well. Offensively he was important and defensively he wasn’t the big negative that most would assume he would be.

He got to hit the biggest shot of his career in a meaningful postseason game, while also proving that he was capable of being a starter as well. That nagging feeling that the Magic could have gone up another level if a better player was in Augustin’s position persists, but really he exceeded all expectations.

So much so that it is hard to find any negatives at all for what he did for the Magic throughout the year. He was a veteran presence for players like Gordon, Isaac and Fultz, who made enough 3-pointers to put opponents on notice and build up a nice two-man game with All-Star Vucevic. He led the team in assists too.

He could have scored more and some of his advanced numbers point to him not influencing the gam hugely on a nightly basis, but we are nitpicking if we continue going down that route. Not many gave the Magic a chance of making the playoffs and yet they did just that with Augustin steering the ship.

We have to remember what he was working with as well, with only Vucevic and possibly Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross the only finished products in the rotation. That put more pressure on Augustin to create for growing players or take on a bigger load himself, which he always seemed to do when he was needed.

What adds to his grade is also what comes next. Augustin will likely fade into a reserve role, especially if Fultz is healthy and ready to go, but the fact that fans and the front office alike won’t have to worry about him causing problems behind the scenes because of this is huge for a growing team as well. Instead D.J. Augustin will just be there, ready to play. Like he always has.

Grade: B+