Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac needs to be a priority on offense
By Chris Murch
After an injury-plagued rookie season, Jonathan Isaac looks to make big strides next season for the Orlando Magic. There are reasons for him being a focal point of the offense in 2018-19.
About a week ago, The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks wrote a lengthy column titled “Jonathan Isaac Could Be the One to Break the Magic Curse.,” focusing on the Orlando Magic big man.
In it, Tjarks breaks down Isaac’s promising Summer League appearances and his potential. Isaac himself, in the article, stated:
"“This summer league has been full of lessons,” Isaac said. “Coming in and trying new things, being aggressive, and taking what the defense gives me. It’s all a part of the process and keeping the big picture in mind of me being that go-to leader offensively.”"
That last line particularly struck me as interesting. In Isaac’s second year with the Orlando Magic, he is not looking to be just a part of the equation, he is looking to solve it and be the catalyst for Orlando moving forward.
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With score-first guys around him like Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic and the rapidly improving Aaron Gordon, Isaac might not be the immediate go-to guy next season.
I’m here to tell you however, that Isaac should be considered to be the guy with the ball in his hands with 10 seconds left. Isaac should be the first or second option for the Magic run the offense through in 2018-19.
Sure, it’s a heavy burden for a second-year player who only played in 27 games and averaged 5.4 points a game last season, but I believe Isaac to be the Magic’s future and potentially, their present. Hot take certainly, but honestly, what do the Magic have to lose at this point?
The non-action of the Magic in the free agency market (granted they didn’t have a lot of money to work with) showed to me that they want to work with the pieces currently in place.
While the Denver Nuggets got Isaiah Thomas, my No. 1 free agent target for the Magic this offseason, for the veteran minimum, the Magic decided to trade for Jerian Grant.
Instead of going all-in this offseason to try to compete in a depleted eastern conference, the Magic essentially kept their roster intact and made subtle moves. Moves I like, but that don’t allow for immediate winning impact.
With the drafting of Mohamed Bamba, the Magic have a clear goal in mind. Get the longest possible players and focus on not letting a single floater in the lane get to the rim.
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This defensive focus is fine and all, but the Magic have been notoriously bad at putting the ball in the hole since Dwight Howard left in 2012. On this end, the Magic did little to improve this offseason.
Since the 2012-13 season, Dwight’s first season outside of Orlando, the Magic have never had an offensive rating inside of the top 20. In fact, they have only had one season (2015-16), in which they were in the top 25.
They have been complete bottom feeders offensively for the last six years and they have continuously done nothing about it.
Drafting Elfrid Payton, trying and failing with Mario Hezonja, trading away Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris and now with Bamba, offense is not priority No. 1. With Isaac however, the Magic may have their best offensive option since Oladipo was in town.
What we saw from Isaac in the Summer League was a stronger, smoother, better ball-handling, better shooting, all-around better version of what Isaac was in 2017-18.
He added a turnaround jumper to his game, his pull-ups were going down, he could go around and through defenders both on the perimeter and in the paint and his shot overall looked more polished than just a few months before.
For the SL, Isaac averaged 14.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game.
I know that looking too much into Summer League play is a rookie move for a writer to do, but every question that needed to be answered about Isaac’s game was, and then some.
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After spraining both left and right ankles last season AND spraining his right foot, Isaac needed to answer the following: Did he put on weight? How’s his offense? Can he and Bamba be on the floor at the same time? Did his athleticism hold up after being unhealthy last season?
According to Isaac, he has bulked up to 222 pounds this offseason so far. He looked more comfortable with his lanky frame in his three games in Vegas and knew how to use his length on both offense and defense.
I would look for him to get up to around 230 by the beginning of the season to enhance his health and ability to bang in the post.
The offensive questions were answered as well with the various ways in which he did score. He showed promise on his jump shot which previously had looked shaky. I think with an enhanced offensive presence and more responsibility Isaac will only get better in this capacity.
He will be able to lead the anemic offense that the Magic have put out on the floor now for the past five years.
I wrote the other day about how Isaac and Bamba being on the floor at the same time was best for Orlando moving forward. With Bamba at the 5, Isaac at the 4 and Gordon at the 3, you have a lineup that can score and defend well and would make sure the paint is Fort Knox.
That question was answered during the Summer League, with Isaac and Bamba feeding off each other on the defensive end and both putting up crazy block averages.
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Really the one X-factor for Isaac this season will be health. He will have every opportunity in the world to showcase why the Magic picked him sixth overall in 2017 this season. Can he play a full 82-game slate? Can he even play 65 games?
A lot of Orlando’s potential success will rely on Isaac playing big minutes throughout the season.
During the SL he looked strong and healthy. Will this translate to the grueling NBA season? The hope is that, in his first season, he learned how to better take care of his body and with the help of the Magic training staff will maintain his current health.
That’s the biggest wait and see at this moment for Orlando.
Personally, I think it would be silly for Orlando to not prioritize Isaac within the offense this season. The guy is nearly 7-feet with range, handle and length. The way the Magic are currently constructed the likelihood of a playoff run is low.
With Gordon and Isaac leading the scoring charge, the Magic will be prepping for the future and who knows, maybe can surprise some people this season.
Winning games with Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic as two of your top scorers has not worked now for a few seasons. Let’s see a little change and get the guy, with the most potential on your team, to start being a focal point of the offense.
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I look for Isaac to make huge strides next season and potentially be the guy to turn the Magic around. Only time, and Isaac’s injured ankles and feet, will tell.