Last night the Lakers signed DJ Augustin to replace DeAndre Jordan who they had just cut. Los Angeles is therefore finally acquiring a veteran with a profile compatible with LeBron James. That’s all well and good, but isn’t it a bit too late?
It’s happening in Los Angeles! Yesterday night, we learned via Shams Charania that the Lakers had cut DeAndre Jordan to be able to sign DJ Augustin as a free agent, while Wenyen Gabriel came to him through a two-way contract. The veteran point guard has played 34 games with the Rockets this season for a 5.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 40.4% shooting and 40.6% from 3-point range. Kendrick Nunn being still unavailable for an indefinite period, the Lakers have decided to bet on an intelligent, experienced point guard, capable of shooting from afar, and who gives himself in defense even if his small size tends to penalize him. Doesn’t that remind you of a few players? Mario Chalmers? Matthew Dellavedova? Avery Bradley? All were leaders alongside LeBron James, especially when he won titles. The addition of DJ Augustin to the Lakers therefore rather makes sense for surround the King as well as possible, even if it is very difficult to talk about an NBA title this season in Los Angeles. The Angelinos are now ninth in the Western Conference with just 27 wins in 60 games played. We are far from a contender and the signing of a player with the profile of DJ Augustin seems very late. For several months, we have insisted on the fact that the Lakers have badly built their team and that some adjustments had to be made to stick to LeBron’s style of play. Result, not the slightest movement at the trade deadline, which would have poisoned the relationship between the front office and LBJ even if the latter’s camp denied it.
The Los Angeles Lakers intend to waive DeAndre Jordan and sign free agent guard DJ Augustin, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Lakers are bringing in a veteran, accomplished shooting PG to back up Russell Westbrook.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 1, 2022
One of the factors that explain the disillusionment of the Lakers is obviously the failed integration of Russell Westbrook this season. If we had any doubts when he arrived this summer, we did not expect such a failure. The Hollywood franchise is paying for its bad recruitment last summer and finds itself pinning its hopes on a quasi-namesake of Didier Gustin. If this signature touches us one without moving the other, we can still hope that DJ – former backup of Brodie OKC era – gives a boost to the lead. The can always surprise us on a misunderstanding and take a hot shot at the right time to help the Lakers. We remember in particular the DJ Augustin Game during the 2019 Playoffs, when he had slammed 25 points at 4/5 behind the arc, including the game winner to win the first match of the Raptors – Magic series.
The Lakers are one of the most disappointing teams this season. We are less than two months away from the Playoffs and it is not even sure that LeBron James and his friends will participate in it this year. The signing of DJ Augustin may be good for the team, but the timing is more than uncertain. “Come on DJ, save us Lakers! “The sadness of the sentence…