Augustin must excel if Magic harbor playoff dreams

D.J. Augustin may be the most unassuming player on the Orlando Magic roster. He is the shortest. Though listed as 6 feet tall, he says he in fact measures 5 feet 11. A casual sports fan walking past him in a public place probably would never guess Augustin plays professional basketball.

Augustin sounds as if he regards his lack of height as a badge of honor. To him, his physical stature is proof that he’s carved out his lengthy career through old-fashioned hard work, smarts and guile.

“I’ve had doubters my whole life,” Augustin said. “I’m 5-11.

years in the NBA, so I don’t listen to it, obviously.”

His self-assurance should serve him well this season because the Magic are counting on him. He is the veteran in a point-guard rotation that also includes fourth-year player Jerian Grant and rookie Isaiah Briscoe, and Augustin likely will start and certainly will receive major minutes. In most scenarios for the upcoming season, Augustin must play well for the Magic to defy expectations and reach the playoffs in the watered-down Eastern Conference.

The team addressed its pointguard spot during the offseason but not in the way many of the team’s supporters had hoped. Orlando used the sixth overall pick to select center Mohamed Bamba instead of trading up to select University of Oklahoma standout Trae Young; as they chose Bamba, Magic officials passed on picking the University of Alabama’s Collin Sexton or the University of Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In free agency, the team declined to sign former All-Star Isaiah Thomas, who struggled last year after he came back from a hip injury. Instead of finding a replacement for Augustin, the Magic traded for Grant and signed Briscoe, a converted shooting guard, off a team in Latvia.

Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, GM John Hammond and coach Steve Clifford were happy to stick with Augustin.

“D.J. just gets it,” Clifford said. “D.J. is detailed. D.J. is skilled. D.J. knows how he has to play. He understands where his teammates need the ball in order to play well. He’s a point guard, a pro point guard. The other two guys, obviously, they’re not as experienced as him, but they both have things that they’re very good at.”