2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jonathan Isaac

Jonathan Isaac did not have the season he wanted. Injuries cut it short. But he showed plenty of promise to make fans believe.

The Orlando Magic drafted Jonathan Isaac with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-11 combo forward fit the bill for new Magic management in general manager John Hammond and president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman. He was a lengthy player with developing skills. Draft experts said he had as high of a ceiling as anyone in the draft.

Isaac’s season started how it ended. He showed promise in Summer League, although it ended early due to injury.

The regular season got off to a rather peculiar start against the Miami Heat on Oct. 18 when the rookie forgot to put on his jersey before the game. After going through his shooting routine, Isaac threw on his warmup and everything else– except his jersey. It was a reminder of how wide-eyed and young this rookie was.

He took it all in stride, showing a maturity that went beyond those years. He would need that maturity throughout a difficult season.

Isaac sprained his ankle in a Nov. 11 game against the Denver Nuggets. It caused him to miss the next 18 games and 46 of the next 49 games. Most of his rookie year was gone like that over a seemingly minor injury. The Magic were either overly cautious or the injury was worse than they reported.

It was frustrating for the young player to sit and watch his team play without him.

When Isaac returned, he would go on to show why he was the sixth overall pick during the 2018 season. He displayed tremendous defensive ability and offensive versatility.

All those defensive tools scouts gushed over with Isaac were on full display. His defensive impact was clear statistically too. And all this from a 20-year-old rookie who still admitted he had a long way to go.

The offense certainly still has a long way to go for him to reach his full potential. But even through injuries, Isaac showed plenty of promise.

The Good and the Bad

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/29/2018.

Jonathan Isaac showed natural defensive ability. He has fluid hips and can change direction all working to his advantage.

A vast majority of his blocks shots are predicated on impeccable timing. Isaac has tremendous anticipation. Hence his 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game average. He is like a tall, lengthy NFL free safety in passing lanes, a pest for opposing opponents.

Isaac’s defensive awareness is beyond his years. And the numbers show this.

The Magic had a 101.1 defensive rating with Isaac on the court. That was the best mark of any player on the team. That does not mean Isaac was the sole reason for this defensive uptick. But it sure looks good for the rookie.

On the offensive end, Isaac showed the ability to play off the ball, to get open looks around the basket and to get out on the fast break.

His 3-point shot is respectable, he shot 34 percent on 1.7 attempts per game. Isaac can hit the open three and if he is in rhythm, he can drain it over a defender. His mid-range game is decent and his jump shot overall is average.

Isaac, also showed glimpses of being able to take his man off the dribble and drive to the basket. He should be able to take most power forwards and centers off the dribble. But the 21-year-old just needs to become more decisive in his game.

Although Isaac showed potential on the offensive end, there are still some reasons for concern.

His handle is loose and shaky the majority of times. He showed some clumsiness on offense, which contributed to him twisting his ankles on numerous occasions. He only played 27 games as a result of his ankle problems.

Also, the form on Isaac jump shot is a little awkward. He has a long and high release. It begs the question, whether Isaac is going to be a consistent shooter in the NBA.

Best Game of 2018

March 20 vs. Toronto: 10 points, 4/7 FGs, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blocks

Jonathan Isaac got off to a blistering start against the Toronto Raptors, scoring eight of his 10 points in the first quarter. Although he cooled down and only scored two points for the remainder of the game.

Isaac made an impact on the defensive end with five steals and two blocks. His impact was incredibly clear from the moment he stepped on the floor. The team was demonstrably more active defensively with Isaac on the floor. It changed the tenor of the game.

Isaac displayed all that he can become as a player.

The 6-foot-11, 220-pounder showed his versatility to play small or power forward.

He and Aaron Gordon were interchangeable on the court. Isaac can switch defensively at will because of his defensive awareness.

Isaac was assertive on offense and even led a fast break after he blocked a shot and finished the play on the other end with an easy dunk.

This was Isaac’s best all-around game because he displayed his two-way potential, he was impressive on offense and defense.

2019 Outlook

Jonathan Isaac will improve in the 2019 season. The rookie has all the tools and he will get better. He just needs to conquer the injury bug.

He needs a strong offseason of training. Isaac is still too frail right now to have a full season in the NBA. He needs to work on his ball-handling, shooting and frame, and he will be ready to take the next step in his game.

Isaac can play all three positions in the frontcourt. He played well alongside Aaron Gordon at small forward. His best games came after returning from the ankle injury there.

Obviously, on a rookie contract, the Magic have plenty of reason to believe in Isaac’s continued growth. The injuries were a setback for sure. It took away from the overall excitement of his rookie season. But make no mistake, Isaac is still an important part of this team’s future.

What little core the Magic have this year, Isaac is almost assuredly a part of it. He was the original Jeff Weltman draft pick. And that makes him important for the team moving forward. Orlando needs to see the most from Isaac.

A strong sophomore year would be a big boost for Isaac and for the Magic.

The Magic have a lot to be excited about, and the Gordon/Isaac combo was a success in 2018. I expect that combination to be a force in 2019.

Final Grade

Jonathan Isaac showed all the promise that made him the sixth pick. The injury issues are the only real concern in his game.

He is already elite defensively and is an impact player. The Magic had their best defensive rating with Isaac on the court. The team gave up 101.1 points per 100 possessions with Isaac on the floor.

That is impressive. Even if a fraction of that came from Isaac’s mere presence, that is impressive for a rookie. It would seem he already has at least one definable NBA skill. And it is the hardest one to teach. A coach will relish the chance to coach a young player with his potential.

Isaac’s grade is not higher because he missed so many games because of injury. That was the only thing that held him back. Otherwise, Isaac would be tantalizing.

But Isaac has undoubted weaknesses he needs to improve on to get into that upper tier of his celebrated rookie class. He is not quite the ball-handler that some expected him to be.

Before returning from his ankle injury, he played more like a big man rather than a wing. But toward the end of the season, he showed some signs of being able to play the small forward position and becoming the all-around player the Magic expect him to become.

That is a good sign. For a team desperately in need of hope, Isaac is the team’s best chance.