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Orlando Magic NBA Summer League: Jonathan Isaac has improved offensively

By Jean Racine

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 6: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 6: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Isaac was given a green light to shoot and score throughout Summer League. The results may not have been efficient, but his improvement was clear.

One dribble, two dribble, pull-up, bucket.

The two-dribble, pull-up jumper is becoming a go-to move for Jonathan Isaac. A new move to add to his growing arsenal offensively. The kind of thing he put in countless hours in the gym since the season ended to improve his game.

It all led up to his mid-summer checkup in Las Vegas. A chance to put it all out on display for the world to see.

The 6-foot-10 combo forward showed a much improved offensive game in the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League. In three games, Isaac averaged 14.3 points per game in 27.3 minutes per game.

After creating very little offense for himself in college with the Florida State Seminoles, starting alongside current Charlotte Hornets’ guard Dwayne Bacon, Jonathan Isaac did not display a whole lot offensively this past season with the Magic. The passivity Isaac showed at Florida State was a concern for him coming out of college. His rookie year did little to quell those notions.

Injuries further slowed his offensive progression. A sprained ankle and then repeated foot and ankle problems throughout the season kept Isaac on the sideline and away from the valuable on-court experience his game raw game needed to grow.

In his injury-ravaged rookie year, Isaac managed only 5.4 points per game on 37.9 percent shooting. Orlando had him focus more on his defensive instincts and rarely ran plays for him. When he did have the ball in his hands, it certainly looked clunky and uncomfortable for him. The Magic just needed him on the floor more than anything else. Anything he provided offensively was a bonus.

That would change as he continued to grow and his expectations grew from a promising defensive-minded rookie into a player the team could truly build around.

Summer League was his chance to show just how much progress he made. And in Summer League, Isaac showed he is taking strides to correct some of his offensive flaws.

Isaac showed an improved handle and more aggression looking for his own shot. Not to mention some promising shot-making ability. He displayed the ability to create his own offense off the dribble and post up. Isaac’s jumper looked smoother. And he seems more confident with his shot.

Overall, Isaac seemed more sure of himself on the basketball court. If Isaac can consistently hit an open three and knock down pull-up jumpers on the wing, he can be a productive offensive player for the Magic next season.

The numbers did not tell the whole story, of course. They rarely do in Summer League.

Isaac led the team with 14.3 points per game. But he shot just 35 percent from the floor overall. Even in his breakout offensive game against the Brooklyn Nets, he needed 17 shots to score 20 points.

Isaac had a green light to shoot and attack. He may not have always felt the most comfortable taking shots, but Orlando wanted him in attack mode and constantly searching for his own looks. And that led to some inefficient and forced shots. Isaac does not seem like a natural scorer. Not yet, at least. Summer League was partially to get him comfortable in that role and searching for his own shot.

Even with an improved jumper and handle, movement without the basketball will be key for Isaac’s offensive production. This will still be a big part of Isaac’s game. It is how the Magic used him most last year.

And he has other areas that he still needs to improve.

His handle is still not quite there. Defenders poked away at Isaac more than a few times. They knocked the ball out of his hands.

For him to help the Magic offensively, he has to outhustle the bigger power forwards and post up smaller players. Isaac showed that he can post up in summer league and even bang around with the big guys like the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, locking him down on several defensive possessions in that game.

This shows just what Isaac’s versatility can do when he becomes fully realized and as he continues to develop offensively.

The NBA is becoming more and more of a positionless league. If Isaac continues to develop his game, his length and athleticism make him a threat offensively.

His length will be a problem for most small forwards, and his quickness will be a problem for most power forwards.

Next: Locked On Magic: Summer League review

It will be intriguing to see how new Magic head coach Steve Clifford uses Isaac offensively. We already know he has the potential to be an elite defender, but his offensive game may not be too far behind.