The Orlando Magic have pinned a lot of hope on sixth overall pick Jonathan Isaac. His rookie year may be a slow development push on the young rookie.
The Orlando Magic knew they had an opportunity to make a big impact for their franchise with the sixth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. It was one of the lower picks they have had in the course of this rebuild. But in this draft, they felt they could grab a potential star.
In reality, the player they took sixth in 2017 very well could become a better player or be a more talented prospect than the player they took second in 2013 (Victor Oladipo), fourth in 2014 (Aaron Gordon) and fifth in 2015 (Mario Hezonja).
Their timeline would matter — would they go for someone who could make an immediate impact or take on a longer project — but the expectation was clearly set that at six they believed they could draft a future star. Someone to build around and jump start their stalled rebuild.
That, of course, did not mean they would immediately throw that player into the fire. He may one day become a star, but for now, he would have to fit in with what the Magic were building. And with new management in place, it would set the tone for their rebuilding plan.
Jonathan Isaac, then, represents both the team’s future and the hope for the present. That might be unfair, there were certainly players who could make a bigger immediate impact. But Isaac, whom the Magic took with that coveted sixth overall pick, is very much a project.
The 19-year-old forward had his moments of brilliance with the Florida State Seminoles. But they were few and far between. He often faded into the background offensively. His star potential is seen in his physical attributes and defensive ability. That is far ahead of where his offense is. But the potential is all there.
He fits a vision of wing player John Hammond had with the Milwaukee Bucks and seems to be in vogue these days in the NBA. His length and athleticism could make him a defensive terror. And when he did assert himself at Florida State, he was a good driver, confident shooter and dynamic player. It is just getting all of that out of him.
There will probably be only flashes of all that potential in his rookie year. Those will be what the team has to hold onto. Otherwise, he likely plays a similar role to the one he played at Florida State — developing in the background.