NBA: Top 10 candidates for 2019-20 Most Improved Player
By Phil Watson
Healthy last season after an injury-riddled rookie campaign, former lottery pick Jonathan Isaac could be ready to break out for the Orlando Magic in 2019-20.
Isaac started 64 of the 75 games in which he appeared and is safely entrenched at the 3 spot with his 6-foot-10 length.
Last season, he averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 26.6 minutes per game, shooting 42.9 percent overall and 32.3 percent on 3.5 3-point attempts a night.
His stroke is solid — he shot 81.5 percent from the foul line — and just needs to become more consistent to take the next step as a floor stretching threat for the Magic, who broke out of a seven-year funk to earn their first playoff berth since Dwight Howard left town.
Isaac’s playoff performance was dismal, but to be fair many of his teammates were similarly showing signs of being deer in the headlights of the Toronto Raptors.
He averaged just 6.6 points to go with 6.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the five-gam eloss, shooting 27.5 percent overall and going 4-for-20 (20 percent) from long range.
Oof.
Isaac still needs to get stronger. Listed at 210 pounds, he can be pushed off his spot when he tries to go down low and converted 64.1 percent of his attempts at the rim last season.
But he’s long and athletic defensively and has only played 102 NBA regular-season games and a little more than 2,500 minutes.
With experience should come a comfort level and that could leave Isaac poised for a big season in 2019-20.
Orlando is tied with the Indiana Pacers for the most winners of the Most Improved Player award, each with five.
The Magic haven’t had a winner since Ryan Anderson in 2011-12, but have also had Scott Skiles (1990-91), Darrell Armstrong (1998-99), Tracy McGrady (2000-01) and Hedo Turkoglu (2007-08).