3 realistic goals for Jonathan Isaac's Orlando Magic return

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Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic looks on against the Washington Wizards (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3 realistic goals for Jonathan Isaac’s Orlando Magic return

3. Play in 20 regular season games

Should Jonathan Isaac return on Monday night against the Boston Celtics at home, as has been reported, that will be the Orlando Magic’s 47th regular season game.

Given the Magic have already beaten the Celtics twice this season, and the minutes restriction Isaac will surely be on, he may only play 10-15 minutes. From there, the Magic will have a 35-game sprint to try and make the play-in.

They next play two nights later, again at home, against the Indiana Pacers. It is 50/50 on whether or not Isaac would play in this game, although if he is not ready to go once more 48 hours after initially suiting up then the Magic really are taking their time with him.

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So for Isaac to play in 20 games between now and the end of the regular season should be a realistic goal here. The organization still has four remaining back-to-back games, as well as two more four-game road trips. One of these will again be a spin out to the West coast.

Regardless of the Magic’s status in the playoff chase, it is unlikely the Magic would play Isaac in both games of any back-to-back. Perhaps if the team absolutely needs a game in the postseason chase, they might consider pushing him. But the Magic will have a clear plan for Isaac in his return.

Even deeper into the season by mid-March or by the time they head West for their NCAA Tournament road trip, it would not surprise if there were minor restrictions in place for him, even then.

Isaac is not going to play his full minutes as if he were fully healthy. The Magic are going to examine and be careful with him.

Isaac has averaged 25.8 minutes per night in 136 career games. He is going to have to build to get to that moment. Perhaps he can get there this season, perhaps he will not.

If he can get relatively close to that number again by the end of the regular season, that has to be viewed as a success. Even more so when you factor in the competition for minutes at the frontcourt spots on this roster.