D.J. Augustin, Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Point Guard
Age: 28
Salary: $3,000,000 (Expiring)
Slash Line: .379/.390/.765
Season Averages: 15.7 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 RPG, 0.7 3PM
The Oklahoma City Thunder provide Russell Westbrook with 34.4 minutes per game and the highest usage rate in the NBA. Thus, the role of a backup point guard is unlike what many experience on other teams.
With rookie Cameron Payne‘s recent emergence, it’d behoove the New York Knicks to see just how available forgotten point guard D.J. Augustin is.
Payne was drafted to be an impact player, a la Reggie Jackson, and he’s shown brief signs of becoming just that. Augustin, meanwhile, has been a healthy scratch in multiple outings.
Augustin, who averaged 14.9 points and 5.0 assists in 30.4 minutes for the 2013-14 Chicago Bulls, and 10.6 points and 4.9 assists in 23.8 minutes with the 2014-15 Detroit Pistons, would be the perfect low-cost addition for the Knicks.
Augustin is currently playing on a base salary of $3,000,000. For his skills—he’s a pick-and-roll specialist who can attack the basket, pull up from midrange, step out beyond the arc, and facilitate—that’s an absolute bargain price.
Coupled with the fact that his contract is expiring, Augustin could be the missing piece as New York pursues a postseason appearance.
Next: 3-and-D