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2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Jonathan Isaac

By Philip Rossman-Reich

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 11: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG training center on August 11, 2017 in Tarrytown, 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. (Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 11: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG training center on August 11, 2017 in Tarrytown, 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. (Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Isaac, Florida State Seminoles, Tyler Lydon, Syracuse Orange
SYRACUSE, NY – JANUARY 28: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Florida State Seminoles defends Tyler Lydon #20 of the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on January 28, 2017 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeated Florida State 82-72. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

What To Look For

There are plenty of stories and examples of raw, athletic rookies needing some time to get their feet wet in the NBA. This kind of hands-off approach means that player will take a slow development and only occasionally show flashes of what he will become. If he ever reaches that.

This is likely the direction the Magic head with Jonathan Isaac in his rookie year.

The team will probably keep his role fairly simple, asking him to come off the bench, defend, run the floor and hit the occasional open 3-pointer. The Magic are not going to throw him into the deep end. Not with their starting lineup seemingly loaded with veterans and the still-promising Aaron Gordon.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

The odds too of the Magic throwing out the super athletic defensive tandem of Isaac and Gordon together does not seem likely, at least early in the year. Not until Isaac proves he can defend at a high level in the NBA (which the Magic should think he can) and can hit an open 3-pointer. There may be instances when teams go super small that the Magic may use this to counter those “death lineups.”

Isaac’s role is going to end up very similar to what he played at Florida State. There, Isaac averaged 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, posting a 56.8 percent effective field goal percentage. He hit on 34.8 percent of his 3-point attempts.

The criticism for Isaac was he often stayed on the perimeter too much and faded into the background as veteran players Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathon-Mays dominated the ball. No one ever saw Isaac be “the guy.”

But he still found a way to get involved with his defense and rebounding. And when he attacked the basket, he was effective. Doing that at the NBA level is always the challenge. It is a challenge every rookie has to push through.

The Magic are not likely to give Isaac too much responsibility his rookie year. They recognize they drafted someone who will take a lot of time to develop properly. And so his role will remain fairly simple. If Isaac delivers on the defensive end as the team anticipates, it will be a good rookie season.