Milwaukee Bucks gain a fierce competitor with veteran point guard D.J. Augustin
Overlooked and underappreciated, D.J. Augustin knows how to get the job done in big moments. Many will remember him from his game-winning shot against the Toronto Raptors in 2019, but this is one small piece of Augustin’s talent. A crafty guard who can score at three levels, Augustin is a multi-dimensional offensive player who will lead the second unit in Milwaukee.
Augustin never backs down from a challenge and elevates his play under pressure. Adding a veteran leader to the rotation in place of the departing George Hill maintains the status quo. Hill and Augustin are on the same tier of player by this point in their respective careers and the latter of the pair is about $3 million cheaper for this season.
Part of me has always been fascinated by the possibility of seeing Augustin in a winning scenario. Though he competed with the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City and Denver Nuggets in recent years, Augustin’s only season on a contender was 2015-16 with the Thunder. This Milwaukee team has dominated the East during the regular season for two seasons and just upgraded to a three-headed monster between Giannis, Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Bucks won’t lean on Augustin as the Magic did in key scenarios. That should set both him and the team up for success as limited bursts of Augustin in high-stakes scenarios will usually produce solid results.