With media day right around the corner, now should be a real time of optimism for the Orlando Magic. Before the reality of being a young team that will lose loads of games sets in, there is first the possibility of what could be in the future for them.
It is evident that Jalen Suggs, R.J. Hampton and Cole Anthony, to name only a few, have spent the offseason trying to build a culture and bond that will stand to them in the future. Even J. Cole recently got in on the act, as the players got to Orlando ahead of time to work out together.
There is just one glaring issue, and that is how difficult Jonathan Isaac’s off-the-court comments are making this growth.
The Orlando Magic are trying to build something sustainable, but recent comments by Jonathan Isaac are not helping the organization to grow.
If you weren’t aware, Isaac is a deeply religious man, and in the past has seen his teammates no-show a sermon that he gave at his local church. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an individual of strong faith. In many ways, it should be commended as a way for a person to live the most fulfilling life that they personally can.
But in 2021, you are going to be hard-pressed to find a group of individuals born around the turn of the millennium who are going to be as into that kind of thing as Isaac is. Again, there’s no problem with that either. Part of what can make a team or group so special is the coming together of different personalities (Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman for example are very different people).
So it feels like Isaac is a bit removed from the exciting chemistry that the other young players on the team are building together. What makes this even harder is the fact that he is currently rehabbing a torn ACL as well. Athletes have spoken before about what a lonely journey that recovery is, and how it takes place largely away from your teammates a lot of the time.
So already then Isaac seems to be at a disadvantage here, in that he leads a very different life (he recently got married at 23) and has spent much of his Orlando Magic career coming back from injury. More recently, however, he made some troubling comments regarding Covid-19 and having not yet been vaccinated, and at this stage, it is becoming harder to see the long-term fit here.
Everybody can (and does…) have an opinion on the handling of Covid-19, as well as the topic of vaccination. The scientific evidence appears overwhelming as to the benefits of getting vaccinated. 99 percent of the WNBA are vaccinated, and they haven’t had a single case of Covid-19 so far this season.
But Isaac is distrusting of the vaccination, which presents a real problem to the Magic organization. He is not alone in thinking this (both Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins are in the same boat, among others), and really this is a tricky situation as issues including race and belief in the government and medical setups of a country come into play as well.
To approach this from purely a basketball standpoint seems almost trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it is important to do so from the point of view of the Magic. They have spent the offseason hiring a first-time coach in Jamahl Mosley who is saying all the right things and adding veterans in Robin Lopez and E’Twaun Moore who will help the young players.
Terrence Ross is another valuable veteran, while also being an ideal trade candidate when the time is right as well. Suggs and Anthony have chips on their shoulder, and that has permeated through the squad already. Between all of the youth, future cap space and owning their own first-round picks (and one belonging to Chicago in 2023), things are really looking up in Orlando.
Jonathan Isaac’s failure to lead is a disappointment for the Orlando Magic
It was hoped Isaac would be one of the leading lights in this regard. When healthy he could go after the Most Improved Player award and be a defensive standout. The perfect and modern big man to pair next to Suggs and whoever else manages to really emerge from the group. Instead, his way of thinking is alienating him from the group, as well as a lot of the fans.
Take a look at Twitter now if you want to. Search for Jonathan Isaac’s name. It is not pretty. Many fans, including some who have lost loved ones to Covid-19, have turned on a player they once pinned so much of their hope on. When Isaac does return, what sort of response will he get from the fans? In road venues? From his own teammates?
Unfortunately, this has probably tanked his draft value as well. The injuries were one thing, and the team-friendly contract helped in that regard. As astonishing as it may be to say, Isaac may now be the biggest cancer to a group since just before Dwight Howard left town. Front offices place more value than ever on chemistry and the building of a functioning roster.
Finding anybody to take a punt on Isaac now will be hard. Irving is on another planet in terms of his talent and accomplishments compared to Isaac, and he is hearing it from all corners because of his stance as well. It is such a shame to see Isaac’s comments come at a time when there was so much for the Magic to be excited about.
It doesn’t derail their future, at least not yet. But ahead of what will now be a very interesting media day, it hangs a dark cloud over what was supposed to be a runway to long-term relevancy. It is the last thing the Orlando Magic organization needs, and whether Isaac stays or goes, it is going to get worse before it gets better.