Magic Has 'Worthwhile Risk' to Keep PF Jonathan Isaac
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic has been extremely patient with power forward Jonathan Isaac, maybe more patient than any team has been with any player in the league.
After an ACL tear in Aug. 2020, Isaac was held out for two entire seasons nursing his knee back to health. Then, a hamstring injury kept him out for the first part of this past season. On Jan. 23, Isaac returned to the lineup in a win against the Boston Celtics, providing depth in the frontcourt off the bench and maintaining a strong level of defense. However, 11 games later, Isaac was ruled out for the rest of the season with an adductor injury.
Luckily for the 2017 No. 6 overall pick, his rehab won't be as long as his other stints and he should be healthy coming into the offseason. The 2023-24 campaign is an important one for Isaac, as it may be his last chance to hold on to his roster spot with the Magic.
“It can’t hurt to have him back out there, see if he can contribute,” an Western Conference executive said via Heavy. “But maybe you get something out of him. If not, you play out the year and you can be rid of his contract completely next summer. That’s a worthwhile risk.”
The Magic could have parted ways with Isaac awhile ago, but the team is hoping that its patience will pay off. Orlando signed Isaac to a four-year, $69.9 million extension in Dec. 2020, four months after tearing his ACL. Now, the Magic is approaching the back-end of that deal, but because he didn't play in 2020-21 or 2021-22, this year's contract holds a partial guarantee, while next year's doesn't have any.
With no guarantees for the 2024-25 season, Isaac is playing for his job this upcoming season. If it works out, the Magic will reap the benefits of its patience. If not, Orlando will soon find a replacement for his spot on the roster.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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