Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 25: What comes next?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass against the Dallas Mavericks on February 11, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 10
Next
Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – JULY 1: Jonathan Isaac #1 and Stephen Zimmerman #33 of the Orlando Magic look on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2017 Orlando Summer League on July 1, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

We should have an article coming up talking more about Jonathan Isaac’s expectations and what kind of role he will play. So I do not want to step on too many toes with it.

But I think it is still hard to predict precisely what Isaac’s role will be with the Magic. This is mostly because we do not know what kind of player Isaac will be and what he can contribute his rookie year.

Coach Frank Vogel said during Isaac’s introductory press conference the team would likely ease Isaac into his role. The plan it seems is to give Isaac only what he can handle. So it is not likely the Magic are going to gift him a starter’s role or even a sixth man role.

Isaac, realistically, could end up playing a role very similar to what he played with the Florida State Seminoles last year. There, like with the Magic this year, he is probably going to see a role that is going to have him pick his spots offensively and focus on playing defense — rebounding and blocking shots, etc.

With the Seminoles last year, Isaac averaged 26.2 minutes per game — a little more than half the game. I would suspect he will average somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes per game. There is always the chance that increases.

But considering the Magic are likely to rely on their starters heavily for around 30 minutes per game, that does not leave much time for Isaac. About 15 minutes per game is probably a good place to start with Isaac. If he outperforms that, the Magic will find ways to get him more — one of those aforementioned logjams on the roster.