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Jonathan Isaac’s Goal List for First Year with Magic

By Jonathan Treadway

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Jonathan Isaac speaks to the media after being selected sixth overall by the Orlando Magic at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Jonathan Isaac speaks to the media after being selected sixth overall by the Orlando Magic at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Isaac,
Jonathan Isaac, /

Making the starting lineup

Whether it happens right out of training camp, during preseason or sometime in the regular season, one of Isaac’s goals for his first year should be to crack the starting lineup at some point in the year. He will get a spot start at some point because of an injury, but Isaac should set as a goal to be a regular starter at some point in the 2018 season.

It is a goal that is definitely a possibility.

With the number of players on this roster who can play any of the wing positions, Isaac will have his work cut out for him to play his way into the starting five.

But it is not impossible.

With Isaac’s versatility and his abilities, he has a wide range of positions he could play on this team. That will make him a valuable tool for the team in a number of ways.

At small forward he will likely have to battle Terrence Ross or Jonathon Simmons for a starting spot. In order to be at the top of that list, he will need to be a solid scorer and lockdown defender.

He absolutely showed in Summer League, he can be the lockdown defender the Magic need.

But he will need to develop a consistent mid range and 3-point shot and attack the basket aggressively to get the sheer point amount needed to convince Frank Vogel to start him.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

At power forward, he will need to use his length and athleticism to his advantage.

As the 4 spot increasingly moves to a stretch-4 and power forwards get better shots and more athletic, Isaac will need his quickness and agility. With his length, he can disrupt most shots. Being a former guard, he has the agility and quickness to stay in front of power forwards on defense and drive past them on the offensive end.

If Isaac can somehow make his way onto the starting lineup this year, that could mean a lot for Isaac and the Magic going forward.

With the number of players all in the same area surely at least one of them will be shipped off or cut before the end of the season meaning every player on the team this year will be fighting for a job and playing time.

Something we have not seen on this team for a while.

If Isaac can ascend to the starting lineup, it will mean his game will be blossoming that much more quickly than other players we have seen (i.e. Mario Hezonja) and going against Jonathon Simmons, Terrence Ross and Aaron Gordon could mean he is well on his way to perennial star status.