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 roster spot for Augustin in the process. 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-foot-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. In a reduced role for a rebuilding Rockets club, Augustin notched 15.0 MPG. 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 looks per night.
Gabriel, 24, will be playing for his third team this season, following stints with the Nets and Clippers. This season across seven NBA games, the 6’9″ Kentucky alum is averaging 6.7 MPG. Across 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, which will increase the Lakers’ already-significant luxury tax sticker price to $45M.
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