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For journeymen, finding a single spot to settle down and focus on playing is a challenge.
Playing for five teams over the past three years, the Orlando Magic's newest point guard, D.J. Augustin, knows the struggles all too well. Mid-season trades have forced Augustin to consistently uproot his family and start anew in a city that, for all intents and purposes, is unfamiliar to them.
Now, with a reported four-year, $29 million dollar contract with the Magic, Augustin and his growing family can finally settle down in Orlando and start the foundation of a solid family. That, along with the prospect of playing for an organization that showed early interest in him and, in his estimation, has a bright future, made choosing Orlando easy for the eight-year veteran.
"It was very important," said the former Texas Longhorn when asked about having a placer he can settle down. "I have a family, I have three kids. Just being somewhere that’s stable, being somewhere that’s long term, that’s what was important to me this summer."
Augustin also said it was great to see how aggressive the Magic were in their pursuit of his services in the early hours of free agency.
"They made me feel like a part of the team before I even agreed," he said. "Just knowing that somebody wanted you as much as they did, it meant a lot to me and my family. Like I said, it’s a great time for me, what the Magic are doing this offseason with the moves they made I feel like they have a great team. I feel like we can do a lot of things this year."
A strong three-point shooter, Augustin fills a much needed role for the Magic. With Elfrid Payton having the starting point guard spot locked down, adding a veteran who adds some shooting was important for the Magic to balance out Payton's struggles of finding consistency shooting the ball.
Across his eight years, Augustin has played in seemingly every role, and every situation possible, from starting on rebuilding Charlotte Bobcat teams, to coming off the bench for contending teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite consistently moving, the six foot point guard hasn't changed his game to cater to the roles he's asked to play.
""I’ve always played my game no matter what situation I was in," he claimed. "I never changed the way I played my whole career, and I’m not going to change now. Still going to play the same way."
With the additions of Augustin, as well as Jodie Meeks and Jeff Green, the Magic figure to have a stronger bench than in previous years. Add in the returns of C.J. Watson and Mario Hezonja, as well as one of Bismack Biyombo or Nikola Vucevic, and the Magic have quietly built a quality bench.
He's not going to win the team many games, but his solid all-around play will be important for the Magic to have as a calming influence off the bench. Add in his ability to shoot, and the added leadership he'll bring to a young Magic backcourt, and Augustin figures to be an important piece for the Magic.
Despite likely being garnering interest from teams in a better position to make the playoffs, Augustin chose to come to a place where he and his family could settle down, while also giving him the chance to make an impact on the floor.