Orlando Magic: 5 goals for Jonathan Isaac’s rookie season
By Max Holm
5. Work on being more aggressive offensively
Making the All-Rookie First Team should definitely be an internal goal for Isaac, but it may not be a practical one. He’s facing the potential of playing out of position because of Aaron Gordon and a glut of centers on the Magic, not to mention his class is loaded.
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While he’s talented enough to be a top-five player in this draft, it’s unlikely he’ll get there after one year. That is partially due to the aforementioned logjam. He’ll likely see time at small forward, which isn’t his best position. The other side of the coin is his offensive game needs much more time to develop.
Even though Florida State was one of the deepest teams in the country last season, Isaac was far from aggressive on the offensive end. He preferred to wait for his opportunities and work his tail off on defense. That’s still a great player. It’s a reason why many think his floor may still be in the mold of a “super role player.”
But that’s his floor, not his ceiling. Isaac has potential well above that with his handle and shooting ability for his size. He’s going to wreck havoc on defense. If he can start to increase his assertiveness and develop a stronger driving game, he could be one of the league’s most promising young two-way talents. His rookie season is a great time to adjust to the NBA and notice how he can expand his offensive game. Polishing his handle and outside shooting are good places to start.