DENVER — After a prolonged slump to start the season, the Thunder benched D.J. Augustin in December, opting to give the rookie Cameron Payne a test run.
Payne immediately lit it up, snagging all of Augustin's minutes. At one point, Augustin didn't appear in 15 of 16 games, despite being available.
So as the trade deadline neared — and with his contract up at the end of the season — Augustin pushed for an opportunity elsewhere.
The Thunder was able to deliver it, packaging him with Steve Novak in a trade to Denver for Randy Foye.