After making zero moves prior to the February trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers have now decided to use the free agency market to add some much-needed reinforcements to their roster. This came in the form of DJ Augustin and Wenyen Gabriel, who are now going to be part of the roster presumably for the rest of the season.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel has now spoken out about his team's two new signings. According to the 48-year-old shot-caller, the arrival of Augustin will look to fill the void this team currently has in the backcourt. With Rajon Rondo being dealt to the Cavs earlier in the season and summer free-agent signing Kendrick Nunn still on the shelf, Vogel has turned to a familiar face in Augustin:

“We had a need for more point guard (play) and shooting that we were able to pick up with DJ Augustin, someone I’ve coached before,” Vogel said, via Jacob Rude of Silver Screen & Roll. “He’s a solid pro that can really, really shoot the basketball and can really playmake. Obviously, we began the season thinking (Rajon) Rondo and Kendrick Nunn in those spots and, obviously, we dealt Rondo and haven’t had Kendrick all year so DJ really fills a need in that regard. Wenyen is someone that we’ve been high on, someone who has upside as a really athletic, 6’9”, 3-and-D type player.”

As Vogel described above, he's coached Augustin in the past. They crossed paths during Vogel's tenure as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, with the 5-foot-11 point guard joining the squad during the 2012-13 season. Vogel then brought Augustin on board during the two years he was at the helm for the Orlando Magic between 2016 and 2018.

“I know his game really well,” Vogel said. “I have exchanged texts with him. I think he gets in late tonight and we’ll be able to sit down and talk more in-depth about where he fits with our team. I like what he brings to the table and not just with the off-ball ability to shoot the basketball and stretch the floor and give our guys more space. When we play smaller lineups – either with AD at the five or LeBron at the five – DJ, when he played with Vuc, I thought had the best stretch of his career, those final two years in Orlando, where Vuc was a five and they were playing a five-out system with an open paint.

“He’s a very, very good pocket pass and pick-and-roll playmaker. You have to go over his pick and rolls or he will beat you over the top. I mean, he almost beat us last year when we played Houston in this building. He can still go. I think he’s going to help us, we think he’s going to help us. I’m looking forward to sitting down with him.”

Now that he's with the Lakers, Augustin has played in all three teams Vogel has served as head coach. Needless to say, coach Vogel has a lot of trust in the 34-year-old veteran and he was more than happy to pick him up after he was waived by the Houston Rockets back in February. The Lakers waived center DeAndre Jordan to make room for Augustin on the roster.

As for Wenyen Gabriel, the 6-foot-9 power forward has been brought on on a two-way deal. It was Sekou Doumbouya who served as the sacrificial lamb for the Lakers in order to free up a spot for Gabriel. Vogel hinted at the possibility of Gabriel potentially cracking his rotation in the near future:

“My understanding is that he will be with us full-time, not really with the G League unless there are smaller stints that require that and we will give him a looking,” Vogel said. “Hopefully, we can get some practice time and we can see him and see what he can do up close and in person. But he has a skill set that fits what we need. The successful stints this year have been with Bron, Russ, AD and the younger, energetic guys.

“We’ll have to see what Wenyen brings to the table but it is possible he gets in the rotation and plays some.”

It goes without saying that these two signings are far from the blockbuster category for the Lakers. Not even close. Neither of these guys are game-changers, but they should be able to play their respective roles effectively. However, whether or not they will be able to help the Lakers improve this season is an altogether different question.