The Lakers have announced in a press release that they have officially signed free agent point guard D.J. Augustin and free agent power forward Wenyen Gabriel, two moves that had previously been announced as being in the works.
Los Angeles opted to waive reserve center DeAndre Jordan, clearing a spot for Augustin on the 15-man roster. Gabriel will replace Sekou Doumbouya on a two-way deal with the club.
The 34-year-old Augustin, most recently with the Rockets earlier this season, will provide a veteran presence backing up starting point guard Russell Westbrook. Augustin was selected with the ninth pick in the 2008 draft out of Texas, six spots behind Westbrook.
The 5’11” vet has previously suited up for the Hornets (back when they were the Bobcats), Pacers, Raptors, Bulls, Pistons, Thunder, Nuggets, Magic, and Bucks, before landing with Houston midway through the 2020/21 season. This season, Augustin averaged 5.4 PPG, 2.2 APG and 1.2 RPG across 34 games (15.0 MPG) in a reduced role for a rebuilding Rockets club.
The reeling Lakers have lost seven of their last 10 games, and currently occupy the Western Conference’s ninth seed with a disappointing 27-33 record. In Augustin, they’ll add a reliable bench option with a solid shooting stroke from deep. For his career, Augustin is connecting on 38% of his 3.4 three-point attempts a night. This season, he is converting 40.6% of his 2.8 looks. Westbrook, meanwhile, is making 29.2% of his 3.4 three-point tries per night.
Gabriel, 24, will be playing for his third team this season, following stints with the Nets and Clippers. Across seven NBA games this season, the 6’9″ Kentucky alum is averaging 6.7 MPG. In 10 contests this season for the Bucks’ NBA G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, Augustin averaged a far more robust 28.3 MPG, as well as 16.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.2 APG and 2.1 BPG.
Bobby Marks of ESPN adds (Twitter link) that Augustin will be earning a $622,467 salary through the rest of the season, with a cap hit of $393,312. That will increase the Lakers’ already-significant projected luxury tax bill to $45MM.
Jordan and Doumbouya are on track to clear waivers on Thursday if they’re not claimed. Both will be playoff-eligible if they join new teams. Jordan is reportedly receiving interest from the Sixers.
That should do it. We are back.
Back of the standings?
These are the types of moves that top front offices make to win a championship. Hang the banner now.
The lakers are like a doorknob, “everyone gets a turn”
What door with a knob is being opened by that many people? I feel like if the traffic is that high it’d be a push bar or handle.
The way things things have been going in L.A. maybe Augustin should be starting and Westbrook backing him up
Exactly. Russ should’ve been running with the second unit a long time ago.
Just curious…. how is Gabriel better than Doumbouya? I mean they’re both pretty trash but like… there’s no one else out there?
Fan attachment when the fan thinks they are the only ones who can tell the athleticism is special. There’s no • yeah, but… •.
Oh boy. Another Pelinka genius move.
They could afford Caruso at $10M because of luxury taxes even though the team is worth 8 billion and has 410M in yearly revenue and LBJ is probably good for TWO more years.
Now they make Mickey Mouse moves that also carry the same dollar for dollar penalty but will have effect of this horribly constructed roster.
Yup another gem. Go lakers!
Another genius move by Pelinka!
Last I saw, Augustin is a quality backup, but had been on ice. Used to use great striding downcourt, always a cool customer.