5 questions for the third quarter of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

5 questions for the third quarter of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

When will Jonathan Isaac return?

This is the big question. The question everyone associated with the Orlando Magic gets from everyone — whether it is media asking the team, friends asking the media, other media members asking the media: When is Jonathan Isaac going to return?

It has now been more than three years since Isaac’s original knee injury on Jan. 1, 2020. Since then the world has gone through a pandemic and the roster and completely reformed — only three players remain on teht eam since Isaac last played. Isaac has played just two NBA games through all of that — both in the bubble from the resumes 2020 season.

The recovery process has been long and arduous for sure. Much longer than the typical recovery from a torn ACL — and whatever hamstring injury Isaac had last March that slowed down his recovery.

The Magic themselves have been extra cautious with his recovery becuase of his long injury history and now the long delay in his return. The Magic have essentially had to operate as if Isaac is not part of the plans. His return would be a bonus.

But that return is imminent. Or as imminent as it can be.

Isaac is playing games with the Lakeland Magic now — he looked impressive if not fatigued during his first run last week and is set to play with Lakeland again Thursday in Sioux Falls — and that at least feels like the final step before he rejoins the team for good on the court.

It is almost here. That is about the only thing that feels certain for Isaac and the Magic.

The when? Good luck trying to get that out of anybody.

He is clearly out for Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. But this next week is a good pocket of home games to bring him back — four of the next six including Friday’s game are at home and the two road games are part of back to backs that Isaac is unlikely to play in anyway.

After that? Orlando does not have any extended period at the Amway Center until a three-game homestand in early February (spanning through the trade deadline on Feb. 9). The All-Star Break is the next break after that.

The All-Star Break and playing Jonathan Isaac for the final quarter of the season in a similar manner as Markelle Fultz last year seems like the worst-case scenario for his return.

Right now, Isaac is rebuilding his game conditioning in the G-League. But it should not take that long for him to be ready for NBA action again.