More often than not, when Detroit Pistons fans see a veteran player elect to retire, their next move is typically the pursuit of a career in the media.
Well, for one former member of the Pistons' roster, he is taking a path less traveled by making the jump from the hardwood straight to the front office of a Western Conference contender.
When you spend 14 years navigating your way through an NBA career, you gain a wealth of wisdom that can be valuable for a franchise when building out a roster. That appears to be the motivation behind this particular hire.
Former Pistons PG D.J. Augustin Joining Rockets as Front Office Exec
According to Houston Rockets insider Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Augustin is set to return to Houston and join the brain trust put together by GM Rafael Stone. Augustin's exact title is not known at this time, but it seems safe to assume that he will be working alongside those who make decisions regarding Houston's roster.
Former NBA guard D.J. Augustin is joining the Houston Rockets in a front office capacity, sources tell @TheAthletic. The 37-year-old, who played for Houston in 2021, spent 14 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2024.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) June 5, 2025
Throughout his career, Augustin suited up for 11 of the league's 30 franchises. It would be hard to replicate the knowledge he has of the NBA and how organizations throughout the league handle their business. This is surely an area where the Rockets will look to tap into Augustin as a resource, as, like the Pistons, Houston is expected to be one of the more active teams on the trade and free agent markets this summer.
Augustin only appeared in 54 games, including 13 starts, for Detroit before the Pistons traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. When he was on the floor, he showed the fans in Motor City just how talented he is. One of Augustin's best moments came in Detroit as he set a career-high for points in a single game as a member of the Pistons by pouring in 35 points against the Toronto Raptors.
With Augustin set to embark on this new endeavor within the NBA, whatever ascent he makes in the front office ranks will be intriguing for fans in Detroit to follow. If he is successful in Houston, perhaps a reunion with the Pistons sometime down the road could be in order.