X-Factor #2: Jonathan Isaac’s Progression

It’s no secret that when the Magic drafted Jonathan Isaac with the sixth pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, that there would be very high hopes for him in central Florida. However, injuries plagued his rookie season, causing him to be sidelined for 55 games. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per contest in 2017-18. The good news is that Isaac possesses all of the physical tools and intangibles that could make him an elite forward in the NBA. The bad news is that he struggles shooting from deep and has yet to develop an offensive identity.

Defensively, the Florida State product is very effective on-ball and out in the open court due to his length and lateral quickness. Isaac’s ability to score in transition and craftiness around the post and in the mid-range area are the best tools in his arsenal. He shot 34.8 percent from three-point range last season, but that was with a small sample size of 1.7 attempts per game in 27 contests. Overall, he held a 37.9 percent field goal percentage in 2017-18.

The second-year big man’s health is the main concern, though. If Isaac can stay healthy, it gives the Magic another long, young athlete to put in the frontcourt. More importantly, if Isaac shows real progression offensively this season, Orlando will be able to utilize an additional scoring option which would take pressure off of guys like Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. Along with Mo Bamba, Orlando could form one of the most exciting rim-protector duos in the NBA.

Next Up: X-Factor #3