When is Isaac Returning? Ruled out for the entire 2021-2022 season

[KillMonger]

It is a bit strange but I guess it took them this long to take tanking seriously. I mean, should MCW still be out at this point? E'tuann Moore? Suggs gets injured then.... Tada!! Cole is back, right on time... No time table on JI but there are contradictions as far as he's concerned... JI feels he's ready but weltman makes it sounds like he's not even ready for contact which is a wide difference. Both him and fultz has to be back before allstar break at the latest imo.

[Bensational]

Cole isn’t the sort of guy to rest if he doesn’t have to. I’d say they brought him back ahead of schedule (which was probably a very conservative schedule anyway).

They’re not holding guys back, they’re just not rushing them back. The players know they’ll get their touches and opportunities. A season that doesn’t matter is the best time to get bodies right.

That said… I’m pretty pumped to see Fultz at this point. I think I still have secret high hopes he’ll have figured his shot out.

[Magic_Kingdom]

Has anyone heard any updates on Isaac? We're almost at 16 1/2 months since the date of injury. I keep thinking we're going to get a Zion Williamson-type update any day now announcing that they are shutting him down because of continued pain or a setback in the healing process.

[IllMagic04]

Its hard to believe tanking has anything to do with it. If JI and Fultz took the floor tomorrow its gonna take time for them to get back to form.( minutes restrictions are certain) Which means more losing. Even when they get back to form there not all stars so they are not going to carry us to wins. We are going to lose either way. I dunno whats going on with JI. Very odd. However to me its more important to get Fultz on the floor cause we gotta figure out our backcourt. It sounds like Fultz is getting closer. Maybe JI comes back in late January? It cant possibly be much longer then that. Otherwise just rule him out for the season.

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[swarlesbarkley]

Its hard to believe tanking has anything to do with it. If JI and Fultz took the floor tomorrow its gonna take time for them to get back to form.( minutes restrictions are certain) Which means more losing. Even when they get back to form there not all stars so they are not going to carry us to wins. We are going to lose either way. I dunno whats going on with JI. Very odd. However to me its more important to get Fultz on the floor cause we gotta figure out our backcourt. It sounds like Fultz is getting closer. Maybe JI comes back in late January? It cant possibly be much longer then that. Otherwise just rule him out for the season.

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JI isn't going to move the needle out of a top lotto pick. Fultz might if he immediately becomes the guy he was at Washington.

[Kent]

Considering the investment in JI, I don't think we see him suit up this season.

Not because I'm pessimistic or skeptical. I just think they're taking a holistic health approach and letting his body strengthen and mature before he sees the floor again.

Given we're not needing him to play right now necessarily, it's not a bad approach if you ask me.

[PrimeThyme]

Considering the investment in JI, I don't think we see him suit up this season.

Not because I'm pessimistic or skeptical. I just think they're taking a holistic health approach and letting his body strengthen and mature before he sees the floor again.

Given we're not needing him to play right now necessarily, it's not a bad approach if you ask me.

I lean towards this. We will be lucky to have 8 games in the win column by January and are already 30 games in. I’d put it close to a 30% chance that we actually see him at this point.

There is a lot riding on his health when you consider the time and money investment they’ve made in regards to him.

They probably don’t risk injury in what is a purely developmental, high lottery odds season.

[drsd]

Cole isn’t the sort of guy to rest if he doesn’t have to. I’d say they brought him back ahead of schedule (which was probably a very conservative schedule anyway).

They’re not holding guys back, they’re just not rushing them back. The players know they’ll get their touches and opportunities. A season that doesn’t matter is the best time to get bodies right.

That said… I’m pretty pumped to see Fultz at this point. I think I still have secret high hopes he’ll have figured his shot out.

Whatever the over/under was on Fultz returning before Isaac, I don't think there would have been many of us imagining Fultz coming back first.

Still: in his workout videos over the last two weeks, he seems very cautious. Lot's of lay-ups and no power dunks. He will probably not be high flier for year, given the inherent fear of rein jury that take a long, long time to overcome.

Similar for Isaac, will he ever again Eurostep? I think that move is no longer in his arsenal.


..

[nicnac215]

Cole isn’t the sort of guy to rest if he doesn’t have to. I’d say they brought him back ahead of schedule (which was probably a very conservative schedule anyway).

They’re not holding guys back, they’re just not rushing them back. The players know they’ll get their touches and opportunities. A season that doesn’t matter is the best time to get bodies right.

That said… I’m pretty pumped to see Fultz at this point. I think I still have secret high hopes he’ll have figured his shot out.

Whatever the over/under was on Fultz returning before Isaac, I don't think there would have been many of us imagining Fultz coming back first.

Still: in his workout videos over the last two weeks, he seems very cautious. Lot's of lay-ups and no power dunks. He will probably not be high flier for year, given the inherent fear of rein jury that take a long, long time to overcome.

Similar for Isaac, will he ever again Eurostep? I think that move is no longer in his arsenal.


..

I would bet big on Fultz coming back first. Too bad their is no vegas line on that.

[Optimus_Steel]

Either the injury was worse or he had setback that has not been communicated...

[drsd]

Either the injury was worse or he had setback that has not been communicated...

Or both.

Seriously, something is way off here.


..

[RichCollab]

Maybe 2023 at this point ?

[OrlChamps2030]

Either the injury was worse or he had setback that has not been communicated...

Or both.

Seriously, something is way off here.


..

I wonder when the retirement rumors will start. Lol

[Optimus_Steel]

Either the injury was worse or he had setback that has not been communicated...

Or both.

Seriously, something is way off here.


..

I wonder when the retirement rumors will start. Lol

He wants to be a preacher at some point so I guess that wouldn't be out of the question.

[OrlChamps2030]

Considering the investment in JI, I don't think we see him suit up this season.

Not because I'm pessimistic or skeptical. I just think they're taking a holistic health approach and letting his body strengthen and mature before he sees the floor again.

Given we're not needing him to play right now necessarily, it's not a bad approach if you ask me.

Isaac hasn’t played serious minutes since December 2019.. holding him out until next season would mean he hasn’t played real basketball in 2.5 years+. Has anyone ever sat out in their prime that long and came back looking anything close to what they did before? Being realistic basketball fans, no way he reaches anywhere close to his potential sitting out that long, right?

It also makes his extension a bit questionable..

[tiderulz]

Considering the investment in JI, I don't think we see him suit up this season.

Not because I'm pessimistic or skeptical. I just think they're taking a holistic health approach and letting his body strengthen and mature before he sees the floor again.

Given we're not needing him to play right now necessarily, it's not a bad approach if you ask me.

Isaac hasn’t played serious minutes since December 2019.. holding him out until next season would mean he hasn’t played real basketball in 2.5 years+. Has anyone ever sat out in their prime that long and came back looking anything close to what they did before? Being realistic basketball fans, no way he reaches anywhere close to his potential sitting out that long, right?

It also makes his extension a bit questionable..

extension was a gamble that didnt pay off. everyone knew it was a gamble on his health. at least that contract wasnt a complete anchor (And i thought i heard rumors about an injury clause in there). could have been a lot worse, there are a few teams with $30mil+/yr deals they want off of

edit: found it, if true

The Magic further protected themselves by including Exhibit 3 language in the deal, per Hollinger and Marks. While the exact details of that language are unclear, an Exhibit 3 clause allows a team to limit or eliminate a player’s salary protection in the event of a specific injury — presumably, for Isaac, the language will cover any ongoing issues related to his left knee, following this year’s left ACL tear.

[pepe1991]

btw tiderulz this isn't me calling you out or anything, just pointing out that blind exstension was dumb idea to being with. Year later it ages as most people without bias could imagine. Injury prone player takes ages to recover from serious injury after failing to stay healthy for almost whole his career.

[basketballRob]

We don't even know if the Isaac deal has paid off or not yet. If he leads us to an Eastern Conference Finals one or two years, it would be a home run contact.

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[Def Swami]

Either the injury was worse or he had setback that has not been communicated...

Has to be. This is a 12 month recovery for most. 15 if you're being conservative. We're pushing 17 with no real sign of improvement. Setbacks are kind of rare in these recoveries. And regardless of the severity of the injury, once you have the surgery, it's all about rehab. So it's hard for me to even guess where the "setback" even would have come.

The whole situation is just weird and beyond any reasonable speculation at this point. There's a little conspiracy part of me that wonders if Isaac's media and book tour is more about him laying the groundwork for his post-NBA career. I had such high hopes for him that I wonder if his career just follows that of MKG's; great, athletic defender, high lottery pick who just flames out due to too many injuries.

Fultz had this same injury 5 months later than Isaac and is already playing 5 on 5 in practice. It's just weird all around.

[Xatticus]

Considering the investment in JI, I don't think we see him suit up this season.

Not because I'm pessimistic or skeptical. I just think they're taking a holistic health approach and letting his body strengthen and mature before he sees the floor again.

Given we're not needing him to play right now necessarily, it's not a bad approach if you ask me.

Isaac hasn’t played serious minutes since December 2019.. holding him out until next season would mean he hasn’t played real basketball in 2.5 years+. Has anyone ever sat out in their prime that long and came back looking anything close to what they did before? Being realistic basketball fans, no way he reaches anywhere close to his potential sitting out that long, right?

It also makes his extension a bit questionable..

extension was a gamble that didnt pay off. everyone knew it was a gamble on his health. at least that contract wasnt a complete anchor (And i thought i heard rumors about an injury clause in there). could have been a lot worse, there are a few teams with $30mil+/yr deals they want off of

edit: found it, if true

The Magic further protected themselves by including Exhibit 3 language in the deal, per Hollinger and Marks. While the exact details of that language are unclear, an Exhibit 3 clause allows a team to limit or eliminate a player’s salary protection in the event of a specific injury — presumably, for Isaac, the language will cover any ongoing issues related to his left knee, following this year’s left ACL tear.

It’s one thing to have that protection, but it’s another to actually use it.