Jonathan Isaac is one of the big mysteries of this Draft. He fits the profile of a strong player with a ton of potential. But questions remain about him.
Orlando Magic general manager John Hammond has a type. Or that appears to be the narrative that has quickly built up as the Magic prepare to pick with the sixth pick in the Draft.
With Hammond as general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, it certainly does seem to follow a trend. He has drafted Luc Mbah a Moute, Brandon Jennings, Larry Sanders, John Henson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, Norman Powell, Thon Maker and Malcolm Brogdon. The thing all those players have mostly in common is positional versatility, defense and length.
It is hard to say whether this is an archetype that will follow Hammond and president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman to Orlando. But if it is, everyone seems to know exactly the player that would fit that bill.
And he is someone close to home.
Jonathan Isaac has all the physical tools to intrigue and to fit this image. At 6-foot-10, Isaac had flashes of individual brilliance. He moved incredibly well while still showing the physicality to crash the glass. Isaac has the potential to do it all.
He averaged 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last year for the Florida State Seminoles. There were games where he absolutely took over with his size and speed making him look like a younger Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But then there were games where he seemed not to exist. He was invisible, hanging on the perimeter as other players on his team dominated the ball, not even attacking the basket for offensive rebounds.
The one thing Isaac has going for him are his physical attributes. He already has a demeanor to be a strong defender. With his speed and physical tools, Isaac can make an immediate impact on that end. And it seems like he already shows the commitment to play at that end.
But for a player drafted this high in this draft, Isaac needs to be something more. The expectations are for a player drafted anywhere in the top six for sure to become a star. And Isaac seems like the biggest risk of any of the top guys in this Draft to do so.
Isaac is a mix of tantalizing potential and immense risk.
The Good
Jonathan Isaac has the look of the kind of NBA star that is quickly becoming in vogue in the league these days. He is 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, according to DraftExpress. Isaac measures out well.
And he uses that length well on the defensive end. Immediately, Isaac should be able to make an impact on that end.
This is where his athleticism, length and raw ability is displayed most clearly. Isaac’s immediate NBA skill is on the defensive end. Every metric seems to suggest he will make good on his physical tools.
Isaac averaged 1.5 blocks per game, a strong number for a player who played largely on the perimeter. He also posted an incredible +6.2 defensive box plus-minus for the Seminoles last year, according to Sports-Reference.
Isaac stands out physically in that way. It feels like he could do everything.
When that translates to the offensive end, it is a thing of beauty.
Isaac has the speed to get out in transition and the athleticism to finish above the rim. He can step out and hit the 3-pointer fairly comfortably (although he shot just 34.8 percent from beyond the arc in 89 attempts).
Orlando Magic
For a player as young and as tall as Isaac, he is very coordinated. This is not a player who is still growing into his body as you often see in the Draft with young, tall and long players like this. Isaac has command of his physical attributes. That will help as he adds strength.
And when he wants to, he uses them to devastating effect.
He has a fairly tight handle that allows him to get to his spots and take jumpers. He can create his own shot against weaker competition. And he is more than capable of taking and making difficult jumpers.
There are some who want to compare Isaac to Kevin Durant. That is a bit premature. But, then again, when you watch his highlights, it is easy to imagine. They have the same body type. So the similarities are easy to see, even if the comparison feels a bit crazy.
Isaac has all that potential within him. It may start on the defensive end. But the flashes he showed on offense were really intriguing. Enough to make him an easy top 10 pick and hard to pass up even at No. 6.
The Bad
Jonathan Isaac had several of those flashes of being really good — a 23-point, 10-rebound game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or a 21-point game against the NC State Wolfpack. He will drive to the middle of the lane and pull-up for a jumper or drain an open 3-pointer and make it all look so smooth. There is a lot to believe in.
And, yet, there were plenty of moments when it did not all come together. Or, maybe worse, Isaac did not assert himself to make it come together.
The situation at Florida State was an odd one. He was playing with veteran scorers who dominated the ball like Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes. Isaac’s usage rate was just 20.3 percent. Considering Isaac was the second-leading scorer on the team, it did not feel like he was giving the Seminoles the aggressiveness they needed.
There are a few reasons. Florida State fans will say coach Leonard Hamilton held Isaac back some and did not play him enough — Isaac played 26.2 minutes per game — or created an offense that favored Bacon and his guards over Isaac. It did not seem like an ideal situation.
And, in fairness, it is tough for freshmen to assert themselves on veteran-filled teams. They are freshmen after all.
Florida State Seminoles Basketball
But all the other talented freshman in the conference found a way to stand out. Jayson Tatum and Dennis Smith battled for ACC Freshman of the Year over Isaac. On-court production has to count for something.
And for every great scoring game Isaac had, he had a lot of clunkers — 11 games with fewer than 10 points including a two-point effort against the Miami Hurricanes and a five-point clunker in the ACC Tournament against Notre Dame.
There were games where Isaac was invisible on offense. He floated around the perimeter unable to get involved in the game. His poor scoring games were often enough to raise some concern. And his 3-point shot is encouraging, but still not up to par. He shot 34.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The rebounding and defense will be there. In that ACC Tournament game, Isaac grabbed 15 rebounds. But his offense still needs a lot of work. And his approach and willingness to take over is something he will have to develop over time.
Draft Sites Say
Mike Schmitz & Derek Bodner, DraftExpress
"Beyond the sheer length and athleticism to chase down blocks from the weakside or force turnovers on the perimeter, Isaac also displays impressive quick foot speed on the perimeter. He does a good job of getting down in a stance and moving his feet, and has the length and quickness to recover and contest a shot if he elects to sag off his man on the perimeter. This gives him both the ability to pressure ball handlers with his length to try to force turnovers, but also the option to play back, cut off driving angles, and recover if he’s at a quickness disadvantage."
William Desautelle III, NBADraft.net
"A “tantalizing” prospect, Isaac has a rare combination of size, length, and fluidity for wing player, in many ways similar to Kevin Durant at the same age from a physical and skill standpoint; at 6’10.5” with a 9’0.5” standing reach … He has the size to play the four (and possibly even 5) when necessary and be a presence inside once his frame fills out, but he also runs the floor like a natural wing player … Isaac has long strides, is light on his feet, and can get up and down the floor in a hurry. . . . Isaac still has not grown into his own body yet, and is very thin for his size at only 205 pounds … He has a lot of skill but has to rely on finesse a bit too often rather than physicality … He struggles on the interior as a 4 man due to a lack of strength and toughness, and he can be pushed out of his spots pretty easily on offense."
Final Word
It is easy to fall in love with Jonathan Isaac and the potential within his somewhat slight 6-foot-10 frame. He does a lot of the things a team would like all with the physical tools to break through and become special.
The possibilities with Isaac as he grows and matures are endless.
The highlights suggest that too. He has the moves and the ability to do everything. There he is hitting a 3-pointer. There he is with a pull-up jumper. A spin fadeaway. A transition dunk, a putback, a block.
Potential tantalizes like that. That is what the Draft is all about.
And Isaac could be all of that and more. That is what teams are banking on. But he could also fall short of that. He could end up being exactly what he was at Florida State in the NBA.
What he was at Florida State was a solid defender. More than a solid defender, he has the chance to be an elite defender.
All those physical tools — his athleticism, wingspan and size — come together to turn him into a strong defender. There is every sense that will translate. He should become a solid defender.
Having a NBA-ready skill, especially one that is so hard to teach on the defensive end, is valuable. And the rest can fill itself in. That is something that has happened throughout the NBA.
And clearly he has the offensive skills. Potentially.
But for a team picking high in this draft, they need a star. They need someone who will step in and take the reigns of a team.
That might be tough to do as a freshman. But even at Florida State, Isaac was sometimes invisible offensively. He has a lot of the tools, but perhaps none of the confidence. Or, if not the confidence, the assertiveness to be that player.
Perhaps that can be learned. Perhaps not. That is the risk inherent in Isaac.
If John Hammond and Jeff Weltman have a type. And if they are truly emphasizing length and versatility. Isaac certainly fits that bill. He certainly fits that profile.
Next: 2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Frank Jackson?
With all of his potential, Isaac certainly would not be a stretch. It would probably be a good pick — if a risky one.