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Orlando Magic: Who will step up with Jonathan Isaac gone?

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: Terrence Ross #8 of the Orlando Magic celebrates with Khem Birch #24 and Mo Bamba #5 against the LA Clippers during the second half at Amway Center on January 26, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: Terrence Ross #8 of the Orlando Magic celebrates with Khem Birch #24 and Mo Bamba #5 against the LA Clippers during the second half at Amway Center on January 26, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

3. Khem Birch

Center Khem Birch is not exactly young at 27, but at this point, he has morphed into old reliable for the Orlando Magic. In his time with the team, he has had plenty of DNP-CD’s, has had to take over the starting role because of injuries, and everything else in between. Birch has done this while never complaining and even received some national media attention love for his play last year.

Backing Birch to get them through this tough patch is a risk for the Magic, but if they don’t want to seriously think about tanking or even regressing while Isaac is gone then leaning into their veterans to stay competitive is something that will have to be done. Birch has also never complained no matter what his role with the team and does deserve a chance to show what he can do.

This season he saw his minutes per game climb to 19.3, up considerably on the 12.9 of a season before. This despite the Magic having Nikola Vucevic and Mohamed Bamba in their rotation as well. Head coach Steve Clifford clearly loves the energy and enthusiasm that Birch brings defensively though, and it will be needed more than ever going forward.

No other player on this roster can come close to what Isaac looked capable of doing on that end, but if anybody is going to try extremely hard to do so it is Birch. After all, this is the guy who turned up to play for Canada last summer, when every other player of note stayed away from the national setup.

Birch isn’t a straight swap for Isaac on the court, but perhaps sliding Vucevic down to the four and playing Birch at center is the answer for some of the minutes Isaac would have played? Offensively at least Vucevic can step into 3-pointers and is a more accomplished offensive presence than Isaac as it is.

Defensively there would be some slippage but that is what Birch would be there for. The Orlando Magic had a defensive rating this season of 108.8, good for 11th in the league. When Birch is on the court that number improves slightly to 108.4. A minor adjustment but if Birch can continue to keep those numbers close when he’s on the court, it will help the Magic get through this period.

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