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2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Jonathan Isaac

By Zach Palmer

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 6: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic boxes out 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 boxes out 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’s rookie year did not go exactly as he envisioned. This season, Isaac looks to show the larger basketball community the reason he was selected sixth overall.

Jonathan Isaac’s first season really could not be considered a rousing success. From the start of the 2017 Summer League, there was something that visibly concerned Orlando Magic fans about their rookie building block.

His frame.

Isaac, was as thin as they come. In Summer League, Isaac got hurt when he collided with a much larger player and he was forced to sit out some games. He made a clear impact defensively throughout those games. But the short stint left a lot to be desired heading into training camp.

Sadly, this only served as a precursor for the season to come for Isaac.

In game 13 of Orlando’s season, Isaac hurt his ankle after landing on someone’s foot going up for a rebound. That ankle would keep Isaac out until game 31 and then Isaac would go on to reinjure the ankle and be out until game 62.

It was a lot of missed time.

But in the final month of the season, Isaac showed some glimpses of why he was the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Isaac showed off his calling card: his defense.

Sure, it was only 12 games. But when Isaac came back in March he quickly proved himself Orlando’s most capable defender.

Isaac used his incredible length and his otherworldly agility to make life a living hell for opposing perimeter defenders. On the inside, when matched up that way, Isaac also proved that he was more than willing to bang with bigger players.

The results may have been mixed, but the process was there for Isaac. It was clear with a proper nutrition that Isaac had the tools to potentially become a four position if not five position defender.

The next time we saw Isaac only two months later at the 2018 Summer League, he donned an entirely new body. A body that allowed him to match up with 250-pound muscle machine Deandre Ayton.

In addition to his new body, Isaac seemed to have added additional confidence on the offensive end in terms of shooting and ball handling.

With these skills in tow, the question now becomes what exactly will Isaac’s role be on the 2019 Orlando Magic?