The NBA offseason is almost in full swing, meaning it's the time of the year when aging players transition from their playing career into front-office roles. Father Time is undefeated, no matter how good of a career someone has, and a job as a coach or executive is often the best way for a retiring player to stay involved with the sport they dedicated their lives to.
Even though the NBA Finals are still ongoing, that didn't stop the Houston Rockets from offering a new opportunity to a recently retired guard whom they're more than familiar with.
Former Rockets Guard D.J. Augustin Returns to Houston in Front Office Job
The Athletic's Kelly Iko reported on Thursday that the Rockets have hired former guard D.J. Augustin "in a front office capacity." The former 2008 first-rounder pick played for 11 franchises throughout his 14-year career, which included a brief stint in Houston not too long ago.
After stops all around the league, Augustin was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks to the Rockets in a four-player deal back in March 2021. He went on to play 54 games (starts) in a Houston uniform, averaging 7.3 points, 2.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds, and .415/.397/.891 shooting splits before being waived from his contract less than a year later. He returned to the Rockets after a brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers but didn't end up playing a game.
This past November, Augustin announced his NBA retirement on Instagram.
Even though he's yet to work in an NBA front office, Augustin's experience playing for nearly half the league could help the Rockets this offseason. The New Orleans, LA native has played with a myriad of players during his time in the Association, and Houston can potentially use those relationships to help sign free agents or pull off trades.
That's without mentioning his local ties that could help lure rookie talent. Augustin played high school basketball in Missouri City (30 minutes outside of Houston) before spending his collegiate career at the University of Texas.
It's early in his front office career, but Augustin has the tools to succeed in his new venture. Hopefully, he has what it takes to help take the Rockets to the next level after a 52-win performance in 2024-25.