RealGM

Why Jonathan Isaac?



Right Time Frame - Magic are currently in player development mode. Cavs and Warriors will continue their run for the next 2-3 years at least. By that time Lebron will be 35 years old and there should be room for new powers to emerge in the East. This time will allow Isaac to mold his body and develop his game... and hopefully, he could be the budding star ready to lead the Magic's next run at the top.

Versatility, Rareness and Fit - Isaac's ability to play 3-5 makes him among the short list of players in the NBA who can do it (Lebron, Giannis, Draymond). Out of the gate he will fit best at SF/PF and that combination makes him the ideal fit next to Aaron Gordon. Isaac can be the shooter/slasher at SF and long help defender at PF while Gordon plays closer to the rim on offense and on the perimeter on defense. In terms of finding another player that will fit as well as Isaac next to Gordon, this opportunity might not ever arise again... and certainly not in the same age fitting. It's hard to pass on Isaac for a PG (no matter how good) because PGs come along every year. Meanwhile, if Elfrid is here Isaac helps spread the floor for Elf's drives in the lane and also gives Elf another fluid big man to throw lobs to.

New Age Center - The Magic have always established themselves around an elite Center to propel them to the Finals (Shaq/Dwight). The next time this happens, it could be around a new age center in the mold of Jonathan Isaac. The sky is the limit for Isaac. It's no secret the league is trending towards small ball, but smarter minds know that doesn't mean length is being ignored. Length definitely still matters. The only things restricting the league from full time small ball is the available talent and the precaution of wear and tear. Regular season basketball is long and arduous... and fast paced basketball will wear teams out. But come playoff time, teams utilize every advantage over that short span and small ball often takes center stage. Isaac's versatility at his size and skills would put the Magic ahead of the curve. Make no doubt, as Isaac grows into his man suit, he WILL play some Center in the NBA and in that line up, the team that has him will have a huge advantage in playoff basketball. They will still need traditional Centers who can eat up minutes at C during the regular season. I'm not advising Isaac as a full time C because too much time at C will result in too much wear and tear on his body. But when we need him there, he will give us a huge edge.

That elusive 2 way player - The Magic have been in desperate need of a star player who can pose as both an offensive and defensive threat. Isaac could easily bring that out-of-box and he's still a very raw player. Say what you want about Isaac's tendency for allowing his veteran teammates to take center stage, and doubting his alpha dog make up. Isaac has shown passionate outbursts and stretches where he carried a veteran FSU squad. He's more than a momentum changer. When all is said and done, Isaac could be the guy to legitimize Magic basketball once again.

Health & Intangibles - Isaac comes in with a clean medical record and rap sheet. Zero issues. Nuff said. A Bronx kid who played HS basketball in Florida. He'll be sure to have a built-in support system in Orlando.

His Competition - Even if I believed Fox would develop a consistent shot to his game, he's simply not a rare enough prospect. It's too foolish to believe that a good FT% is a reliable indicator that someone will become a good shooter. This belief was followed when the Hornets selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #2 overall. He held a .025 3PT%, but his .075 FT% made folks believe his shot would come around. Today, Fox sports a .025 3PT% and a .074 FT% and folks are saying the same thing. That his defense, intangibles and strong desire to win are enough... Let's not make the mistake that the Hornets made.

Every Tatum fan wants to point to the FSU/Duke game where Tatum supposedly outplayed Isaac. Looking at the stat board, you would assume that. Unless you dove deeper and realized that Isaac picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls early on and was benched. When Isaac did enter the game, he gave Tatum nightmares. Tatum's old man athleticism was no match for the longer and more dynamic Isaac.

I've been high on DSJ for a long time and I'm still a huge fan. I see a Baron Davis, Steve Francis mix and I know he'll be a success in the league. I believe in him fully. So it really is splitting hairs for me when it comes to Isaac vs Smith. In the end, Isaac's upside and rarity is so high that it gives me a bad feeling that if we pass on him that Minnesota will be there to swipe him up. I'm much more fond of the available talent for PG at #25 (or in future drafts), than I am of the comparable options to Isaac at #25 (or in the future).

Our Competition - Speaking of the Wolves, they will be among the new young teams that we will be battling with in the future if health and fortune permit. The Bucks, Sixers, Knicks, Lakers, Suns, and Kings are all stockpiling youth and the Magic need to hit this pick right because there is enough talent in this draft for those teams to be making big additions this summer as well.

2017-18 Roster
PG Elfrid Payton / Jawun Evans or Frank Jackson
SG Terrence Ross / Evan Fournier (6th)
SF Jonathan Isaac / Mario Hezonja
PF Aaron Gordon / Jonathan Isaac
C Bismack Biyombo / Nikola Vucevic

No need to overthink this. Isaac sounds good, right?

Skin wrote:Why Jonathan Isaac?



Right Time Frame - Magic are currently in player development mode. Cavs and Warriors will continue their run for the next 2-3 years at least. By that time Lebron will be 35 years old and there should be room for new powers to emerge in the East. This time will allow Isaac to mold his body and develop his game... and hopefully, he could be the budding star ready to lead the Magic's next run at the top.

Versatility, Rareness and Fit - Isaac's ability to play 3-5 makes him among the short list of players in the NBA who can do it (Lebron, Giannis, Draymond). Out of the gate he will fit best at SF/PF and that combination makes him the ideal fit next to Aaron Gordon. Isaac can be the shooter/slasher at SF and long help defender at PF while Gordon plays closer to the rim on offense and on the perimeter on defense. In terms of finding another player that will fit as well as Isaac next to Gordon, this opportunity might not ever arise again... and certainly not in the same age fitting. It's hard to pass on Isaac for a PG (no matter how good) because PGs come along every year. Meanwhile, if Elfrid is here Isaac helps spread the floor for Elf's drives in the lane and also gives Elf another fluid big man to throw lobs to.

New Age Center - The Magic have always established themselves around an elite Center to propel them to the Finals (Shaq/Dwight). The next time this happens, it could be around a new age center in the mold of Jonathan Isaac. The sky is the limit for Isaac. It's no secret the league is trending towards small ball, but smarter minds know that doesn't mean length is being ignored. Length definitely still matters. The only things restricting the league from full time small ball is the available talent and the precaution of wear and tear. Regular season basketball is long and arduous... and fast paced basketball will wear teams out. But come playoff time, teams utilize every advantage over that short span and small ball often takes center stage. Isaac's versatility at his size and skills would put the Magic ahead of the curve. Make no doubt, as Isaac grows into his man suit, he WILL play some Center in the NBA and in that line up, the team that has him will have a huge advantage in playoff basketball. They will still need traditional Centers who can eat up minutes at C during the regular season. I'm not advising Isaac as a full time C because too much time at C will result in too much wear and tear on his body. But when we need him there, he will give us a huge edge.

That elusive 2 way player - The Magic have been in desperate need of a star player who can pose as both an offensive and defensive threat. Isaac could easily bring that out-of-box and he's still a very raw player. Say what you want about Isaac's tendency for allowing his veteran teammates to take center stage, and doubting his alpha dog make up. Isaac has shown passionate outbursts and stretches where he carried a veteran FSU squad. He's more than a momentum changer. When all is said and done, Isaac could be the guy to legitimize Magic basketball once again.

Health & Intangibles - Isaac comes in with a clean medical record and rap sheet. Zero issues. Nuff said. A Bronx kid who played HS basketball in Florida. He'll be sure to have a built-in support system in Orlando.

His Competition - Even if I believed Fox would develop a consistent shot to his game, he's simply not a rare enough prospect. It's too foolish to believe that a good FT% is a reliable indicator that someone will become a good shooter. This belief was followed when the Hornets selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #2 overall. He held a .025 3PT%, but his .075 FT% made folks believe his shot would come around. Today, Fox sports a .025 3PT% and a .074 FT% and folks are saying the same thing. That his defense, intangibles and strong desire to win are enough... Let's not make the mistake that the Hornets made.

Every Tatum fan wants to point to the FSU/Duke game where Tatum supposedly outplayed Isaac. Looking at the stat board, you would assume that. Unless you dove deeper and realized that Isaac picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls early on and was benched. When Isaac did enter the game, he gave Tatum nightmares. Tatum's old man athleticism was no match for the longer and more dynamic Isaac.

I've been high on DSJ for a long time and I'm still a huge fan. I see a Baron Davis, Steve Francis mix and I know he'll be a success in the league. I believe in him fully. So it really is splitting hairs for me when it comes to Isaac vs Smith. In the end, Isaac's upside and rarity is so high that it gives me a bad feeling that if we pass on him that Minnesota will be there to swipe him up. I'm much more fond of the available talent for PG at #25 (or in future drafts), than I am of the comparable options to Isaac at #25 (or in the future).

Our Competition - Speaking of the Wolves, they will be among the new young teams that we will be battling with in the future if health and fortune permit. The Bucks, Sixers, Knicks, Lakers, Suns, and Kings are all stockpiling youth and the Magic need to hit this pick right because there is enough talent in this draft for those teams to be making big additions this summer as well.

2017-18 Roster
PG Elfrid Payton / Jawun Evans or Frank Jackson
SG Terrence Ross / Evan Fournier (6th)
SF Jonathan Isaac / Mario Hezonja
PF Aaron Gordon / Jonathan Isaac
C Bismack Biyombo / Nikola Vucevic

Do you like the sound of that?

Great arguments
Isaac and frank jackson in the first round
Second round for me
I really like dillon brooks
As big men i would looke for kuzma or motley

Great post! This pretty much sums up why picking Isaac would be a long term commitment move. I agree that with the new age center part. Isaac could very well play 1-3 positions for us. He has the length and two way game to be great. He is not the most NBA ready player but isn't that where we are? We aren't going anywhere and the east is lebrons for another 3-4 years. Might as well keep developing the youth core until they can emerge victorious.

We are in more desperate need of a wing then a PG. I still believe that Elfird can be a rotation player on a playoff team but he needs to be MVP rondo to keep his starting job. That means being able to hit the open 3 and force teams to guard You. I love DSJr too but Isaac could very well be the better player long term. Also like you said there are other PG prospect in the late 1st. I'm all in on Jawun Evans. Leaving the draft with Isaac and Evans is a serious upgrade. I co-sign that move.

Hammond picked Gianni's thinking long term and while they stunk it up for a couple of years until he developed into a star, he left that Bucks team with one of the brightest futures in the NBA.

Nice post.

Whether it is by simply drafting at 6 or making a trade, if we walk away with one of Fultz, Ball, Jackson, Tatum, DSJ or Isaac without losing Gordon I will have renewed excitement for next season.

Great post and then you ruin it starting Biyombo over Vucevic.

I wouldn't be pissed if we took him. I just don't think he's a good fit in the starting lineup with Gordon.

I don't think I have stats or reasoning I just don't see it working out. However, the idea of him as a future center prospect is intriguing.

Off topic but every draft prospect should be forced to at least show up to the combine for measurements. Would be nice to officially see certain wingspans and standing reaches.

MAGICian619 wrote:Great post and then you ruin it starting Biyombo over Vucevic.

Ha ha. I will win you over one day!

I just think Vuc is better of the bench. When we're in need of a boost he can be that guy. Biyombo in the starting line up let's our young guys develop their offensive games and right now that is our #1 priority.

Vuc is a nice player when used in the proper context of the game.

Also, I won't be shocked if he's traded by Hammond who tried to trade Monroe who is a similar type of Center.

Skin wrote:Why Jonathan Isaac?



Right Time Frame - Magic are currently in player development mode. Cavs and Warriors will continue their run for the next 2-3 years at least. By that time Lebron will be 35 years old and there should be room for new powers to emerge in the East. This time will allow Isaac to mold his body and develop his game... and hopefully, he could be the budding star ready to lead the Magic's next run at the top.

Versatility, Rareness and Fit - Isaac's ability to play 3-5 makes him among the short list of players in the NBA who can do it (Lebron, Giannis, Draymond). Out of the gate he will fit best at SF/PF and that combination makes him the ideal fit next to Aaron Gordon. Isaac can be the shooter/slasher at SF and long help defender at PF while Gordon plays closer to the rim on offense and on the perimeter on defense. In terms of finding another player that will fit as well as Isaac next to Gordon, this opportunity might not ever arise again... and certainly not in the same age fitting. It's hard to pass on Isaac for a PG (no matter how good) because PGs come along every year. Meanwhile, if Elfrid is here Isaac helps spread the floor for Elf's drives in the lane and also gives Elf another fluid big man to throw lobs to.

New Age Center - The Magic have always established themselves around an elite Center to propel them to the Finals (Shaq/Dwight). The next time this happens, it could be around a new age center in the mold of Jonathan Isaac. The sky is the limit for Isaac. It's no secret the league is trending towards small ball, but smarter minds know that doesn't mean length is being ignored. Length definitely still matters. The only things restricting the league from full time small ball is the available talent and the precaution of wear and tear. Regular season basketball is long and arduous... and fast paced basketball will wear teams out. But come playoff time, teams utilize every advantage over that short span and small ball often takes center stage. Isaac's versatility at his size and skills would put the Magic ahead of the curve. Make no doubt, as Isaac grows into his man suit, he WILL play some Center in the NBA and in that line up, the team that has him will have a huge advantage in playoff basketball. They will still need traditional Centers who can eat up minutes at C during the regular season. I'm not advising Isaac as a full time C because too much time at C will result in too much wear and tear on his body. But when we need him there, he will give us a huge edge.

That elusive 2 way player - The Magic have been in desperate need of a star player who can pose as both an offensive and defensive threat. Isaac could easily bring that out-of-box and he's still a very raw player. Say what you want about Isaac's tendency for allowing his veteran teammates to take center stage, and doubting his alpha dog make up. Isaac has shown passionate outbursts and stretches where he carried a veteran FSU squad. He's more than a momentum changer. When all is said and done, Isaac could be the guy to legitimize Magic basketball once again.

Health & Intangibles - Isaac comes in with a clean medical record and rap sheet. Zero issues. Nuff said. A Bronx kid who played HS basketball in Florida. He'll be sure to have a built-in support system in Orlando.

His Competition - Even if I believed Fox would develop a consistent shot to his game, he's simply not a rare enough prospect. It's too foolish to believe that a good FT% is a reliable indicator that someone will become a good shooter. This belief was followed when the Hornets selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #2 overall. He held a .025 3PT%, but his .075 FT% made folks believe his shot would come around. Today, Fox sports a .025 3PT% and a .074 FT% and folks are saying the same thing. That his defense, intangibles and strong desire to win are enough... Let's not make the mistake that the Hornets made.

Every Tatum fan wants to point to the FSU/Duke game where Tatum supposedly outplayed Isaac. Looking at the stat board, you would assume that. Unless you dove deeper and realized that Isaac picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls early on and was benched. When Isaac did enter the game, he gave Tatum nightmares. Tatum's old man athleticism was no match for the longer and more dynamic Isaac.

I've been high on DSJ for a long time and I'm still a huge fan. I see a Baron Davis, Steve Francis mix and I know he'll be a success in the league. I believe in him fully. So it really is splitting hairs for me when it comes to Isaac vs Smith. In the end, Isaac's upside and rarity is so high that it gives me a bad feeling that if we pass on him that Minnesota will be there to swipe him up. I'm much more fond of the available talent for PG at #25 (or in future drafts), than I am of the comparable options to Isaac at #25 (or in the future).

Our Competition - Speaking of the Wolves, they will be among the new young teams that we will be battling with in the future if health and fortune permit. The Bucks, Sixers, Knicks, Lakers, Suns, and Kings are all stockpiling youth and the Magic need to hit this pick right because there is enough talent in this draft for those teams to be making big additions this summer as well.

2017-18 Roster
PG Elfrid Payton / Jawun Evans or Frank Jackson
SG Terrence Ross / Evan Fournier (6th)
SF Jonathan Isaac / Mario Hezonja
PF Aaron Gordon / Jonathan Isaac
C Bismack Biyombo / Nikola Vucevic

No need to overthink this. Isaac sounds good, right?

Plus he's a Florida boy! I think Isaac is the perfect fit for us, but I fear he'll be picked at 5 a la Porzingis

Count me in the camp that is torn on Isaac and DSJ. I think both have enormous upside but huge question marks as well. If we walk away with one of those 2 at 6 I'll be happy. If we go Isaac at 6, I'm definitely pulling for any way to get Juwan Evans.

Skin wrote:Why Jonathan Isaac?



Right Time Frame - Magic are currently in player development mode. Cavs and Warriors will continue their run for the next 2-3 years at least. By that time Lebron will be 35 years old and there should be room for new powers to emerge in the East. This time will allow Isaac to mold his body and develop his game... and hopefully, he could be the budding star ready to lead the Magic's next run at the top.

Versatility, Rareness and Fit - Isaac's ability to play 3-5 makes him among the short list of players in the NBA who can do it (Lebron, Giannis, Draymond). Out of the gate he will fit best at SF/PF and that combination makes him the ideal fit next to Aaron Gordon. Isaac can be the shooter/slasher at SF and long help defender at PF while Gordon plays closer to the rim on offense and on the perimeter on defense. In terms of finding another player that will fit as well as Isaac next to Gordon, this opportunity might not ever arise again... and certainly not in the same age fitting. It's hard to pass on Isaac for a PG (no matter how good) because PGs come along every year. Meanwhile, if Elfrid is here Isaac helps spread the floor for Elf's drives in the lane and also gives Elf another fluid big man to throw lobs to.

New Age Center - The Magic have always established themselves around an elite Center to propel them to the Finals (Shaq/Dwight). The next time this happens, it could be around a new age center in the mold of Jonathan Isaac. The sky is the limit for Isaac. It's no secret the league is trending towards small ball, but smarter minds know that doesn't mean length is being ignored. Length definitely still matters. The only things restricting the league from full time small ball is the available talent and the precaution of wear and tear. Regular season basketball is long and arduous... and fast paced basketball will wear teams out. But come playoff time, teams utilize every advantage over that short span and small ball often takes center stage. Isaac's versatility at his size and skills would put the Magic ahead of the curve. Make no doubt, as Isaac grows into his man suit, he WILL play some Center in the NBA and in that line up, the team that has him will have a huge advantage in playoff basketball. They will still need traditional Centers who can eat up minutes at C during the regular season. I'm not advising Isaac as a full time C because too much time at C will result in too much wear and tear on his body. But when we need him there, he will give us a huge edge.

That elusive 2 way player - The Magic have been in desperate need of a star player who can pose as both an offensive and defensive threat. Isaac could easily bring that out-of-box and he's still a very raw player. Say what you want about Isaac's tendency for allowing his veteran teammates to take center stage, and doubting his alpha dog make up. Isaac has shown passionate outbursts and stretches where he carried a veteran FSU squad. He's more than a momentum changer. When all is said and done, Isaac could be the guy to legitimize Magic basketball once again.

Health & Intangibles - Isaac comes in with a clean medical record and rap sheet. Zero issues. Nuff said. A Bronx kid who played HS basketball in Florida. He'll be sure to have a built-in support system in Orlando.

His Competition - Even if I believed Fox would develop a consistent shot to his game, he's simply not a rare enough prospect. It's too foolish to believe that a good FT% is a reliable indicator that someone will become a good shooter. This belief was followed when the Hornets selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #2 overall. He held a .025 3PT%, but his .075 FT% made folks believe his shot would come around. Today, Fox sports a .025 3PT% and a .074 FT% and folks are saying the same thing. That his defense, intangibles and strong desire to win are enough... Let's not make the mistake that the Hornets made.

Every Tatum fan wants to point to the FSU/Duke game where Tatum supposedly outplayed Isaac. Looking at the stat board, you would assume that. Unless you dove deeper and realized that Isaac picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls early on and was benched. When Isaac did enter the game, he gave Tatum nightmares. Tatum's old man athleticism was no match for the longer and more dynamic Isaac.

I've been high on DSJ for a long time and I'm still a huge fan. I see a Baron Davis, Steve Francis mix and I know he'll be a success in the league. I believe in him fully. So it really is splitting hairs for me when it comes to Isaac vs Smith. In the end, Isaac's upside and rarity is so high that it gives me a bad feeling that if we pass on him that Minnesota will be there to swipe him up. I'm much more fond of the available talent for PG at #25 (or in future drafts), than I am of the comparable options to Isaac at #25 (or in the future).

Our Competition - Speaking of the Wolves, they will be among the new young teams that we will be battling with in the future if health and fortune permit. The Bucks, Sixers, Knicks, Lakers, Suns, and Kings are all stockpiling youth and the Magic need to hit this pick right because there is enough talent in this draft for those teams to be making big additions this summer as well.

2017-18 Roster
PG Elfrid Payton / Jawun Evans or Frank Jackson
SG Terrence Ross / Evan Fournier (6th)
SF Jonathan Isaac / Mario Hezonja
PF Aaron Gordon / Jonathan Isaac
C Bismack Biyombo / Nikola Vucevic

No need to overthink this. Isaac sounds good, right?

Great write up. Have we drafted DSJ yet?

Although skin is right with isaac but i have a feeling that the nee front office goes with scorers/shooters(dsj,tatum,monk,markaanen )

Mr Magic Fan wrote:Count me in the camp that is torn on Isaac and DSJ. I think both have enormous upside but huge question marks as well. If we walk away with one of those 2 at 6 I'll be happy. If we go Isaac at 6, I'm definitely pulling for any way to get Juwan Evans.

I think that seems to bet he board consensus here.

Scenario 1). Take Isaac with the 6th and go after a sleeper PG in Jawun Evans with the 25th.

Scenario 2). Take DSJr with the 6th and focus on wings with the 25th. I'm looking at players like Dillon Brooks, Josh Hart, Terence Ferguson, Kennard or even Thornwell.

Personally I go with hidden Scenario 3. Make a call to Thibs and tell him you can have anybody on the roster not named Aaron Gordon for that 7th pick. Come out the draft with BOTH DSJr and Isaac. That would be a pure win.

Nice post. I think there is a lot to like about Isaac, and the sky is the limit for him. What worries me, though, is his role on this team. I agree that ideally he would be a perfect fit next to Gordon, especially defensively, but for a team that desperately needs more offense, I'm just not sure if Isaac is the answer. The starting 5 that you described, Payton/Ross/Isaac/Gordon/Biyombo, would almost certainly be one of the worst offenses in the NBA, if not the worst, and it wouldn't even be that much better if you substituted Vucevic for Biyombo.

What the Magic sorely lack, in my opinion, is a go-to scorer, or someone who you can rely on to get buckets when the team desperately needs them. The Magic have tried to turn several guys on the roster into this go-to scoring option, and none of it has really worked. Can Isaac be that guy? I'm skeptical, and in the little bit I saw from him at FSU he looked passive, which has me worried.

With that being said, though, Isaac obviously has a ton of potential and if he can put it all together he can be a very good player. Dennis Smith, Jr. is still my guy, but if the Magic do pick Isaac I won't be that upset.

Issac doesn't impress me that much yet. I'd rather go with DSJ. Seems more like a sure thing. I feel like this video shows how Issac will defend the post.

https://youtu.be/4A34YB-VDWc


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Have we worked him out yet?

He's a Florida State Seminole. I rest my case your Honor.

OrlandoDream wrote:

Mr Magic Fan wrote:Count me in the camp that is torn on Isaac and DSJ. I think both have enormous upside but huge question marks as well. If we walk away with one of those 2 at 6 I'll be happy. If we go Isaac at 6, I'm definitely pulling for any way to get Juwan Evans.

I think that seems to bet he board consensus here.

Scenario 1). Take Isaac with the 6th and go after a sleeper PG in Jawun Evans with the 25th.

Scenario 2). Take DSJr with the 6th and focus on wings with the 25th. I'm looking at players like Dillon Brooks, Josh Hart, Terence Ferguson, Kennard or even Thornwell.

Personally I go with hidden Scenario 3. Make a call to Thibs and tell him you can have anybody on the roster not named Aaron Gordon for that 7th pick. Come out the draft with BOTH DSJr and Isaac. That would be a pure win.

I can dig 3.

But if i had to choose between 1 and 2.... i'll go with 1. I can see a player like evans having fallen down the list because of his size and eventually be a steal at the pg position.

Skin wrote:Why Jonathan Isaac?



Right Time Frame - Magic are currently in player development mode. Cavs and Warriors will continue their run for the next 2-3 years at least. By that time Lebron will be 35 years old and there should be room for new powers to emerge in the East. This time will allow Isaac to mold his body and develop his game... and hopefully, he could be the budding star ready to lead the Magic's next run at the top.

Versatility, Rareness and Fit - Isaac's ability to play 3-5 makes him among the short list of players in the NBA who can do it (Lebron, Giannis, Draymond). Out of the gate he will fit best at SF/PF and that combination makes him the ideal fit next to Aaron Gordon. Isaac can be the shooter/slasher at SF and long help defender at PF while Gordon plays closer to the rim on offense and on the perimeter on defense. In terms of finding another player that will fit as well as Isaac next to Gordon, this opportunity might not ever arise again... and certainly not in the same age fitting. It's hard to pass on Isaac for a PG (no matter how good) because PGs come along every year. Meanwhile, if Elfrid is here Isaac helps spread the floor for Elf's drives in the lane and also gives Elf another fluid big man to throw lobs to.

New Age Center - The Magic have always established themselves around an elite Center to propel them to the Finals (Shaq/Dwight). The next time this happens, it could be around a new age center in the mold of Jonathan Isaac. The sky is the limit for Isaac. It's no secret the league is trending towards small ball, but smarter minds know that doesn't mean length is being ignored. Length definitely still matters. The only things restricting the league from full time small ball is the available talent and the precaution of wear and tear. Regular season basketball is long and arduous... and fast paced basketball will wear teams out. But come playoff time, teams utilize every advantage over that short span and small ball often takes center stage. Isaac's versatility at his size and skills would put the Magic ahead of the curve. Make no doubt, as Isaac grows into his man suit, he WILL play some Center in the NBA and in that line up, the team that has him will have a huge advantage in playoff basketball. They will still need traditional Centers who can eat up minutes at C during the regular season. I'm not advising Isaac as a full time C because too much time at C will result in too much wear and tear on his body. But when we need him there, he will give us a huge edge.

That elusive 2 way player - The Magic have been in desperate need of a star player who can pose as both an offensive and defensive threat. Isaac could easily bring that out-of-box and he's still a very raw player. Say what you want about Isaac's tendency for allowing his veteran teammates to take center stage, and doubting his alpha dog make up. Isaac has shown passionate outbursts and stretches where he carried a veteran FSU squad. He's more than a momentum changer. When all is said and done, Isaac could be the guy to legitimize Magic basketball once again.

Health & Intangibles - Isaac comes in with a clean medical record and rap sheet. Zero issues. Nuff said. A Bronx kid who played HS basketball in Florida. He'll be sure to have a built-in support system in Orlando.

His Competition - Even if I believed Fox would develop a consistent shot to his game, he's simply not a rare enough prospect. It's too foolish to believe that a good FT% is a reliable indicator that someone will become a good shooter. This belief was followed when the Hornets selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #2 overall. He held a .025 3PT%, but his .075 FT% made folks believe his shot would come around. Today, Fox sports a .025 3PT% and a .074 FT% and folks are saying the same thing. That his defense, intangibles and strong desire to win are enough... Let's not make the mistake that the Hornets made.

Every Tatum fan wants to point to the FSU/Duke game where Tatum supposedly outplayed Isaac. Looking at the stat board, you would assume that. Unless you dove deeper and realized that Isaac picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls early on and was benched. When Isaac did enter the game, he gave Tatum nightmares. Tatum's old man athleticism was no match for the longer and more dynamic Isaac.

I've been high on DSJ for a long time and I'm still a huge fan. I see a Baron Davis, Steve Francis mix and I know he'll be a success in the league. I believe in him fully. So it really is splitting hairs for me when it comes to Isaac vs Smith. In the end, Isaac's upside and rarity is so high that it gives me a bad feeling that if we pass on him that Minnesota will be there to swipe him up. I'm much more fond of the available talent for PG at #25 (or in future drafts), than I am of the comparable options to Isaac at #25 (or in the future).

Our Competition - Speaking of the Wolves, they will be among the new young teams that we will be battling with in the future if health and fortune permit. The Bucks, Sixers, Knicks, Lakers, Suns, and Kings are all stockpiling youth and the Magic need to hit this pick right because there is enough talent in this draft for those teams to be making big additions this summer as well.

2017-18 Roster
PG Elfrid Payton / Jawun Evans or Frank Jackson
SG Terrence Ross / Evan Fournier (6th)
SF Jonathan Isaac / Mario Hezonja
PF Aaron Gordon / Jonathan Isaac
C Bismack Biyombo / Nikola Vucevic

No need to overthink this. Isaac sounds good, right?

Great assessment Skin! Totally with you on this one! That team right there will already have me excited for the 2017-18 season

Classic Skin
advocating for one player just to change mind in the end
Im not sure he wont change mind next week making a case for some other player or trading a pick ofc its not a crime
just saying

still interesting read

OrlandoDream wrote:

Mr Magic Fan wrote:Count me in the camp that is torn on Isaac and DSJ. I think both have enormous upside but huge question marks as well. If we walk away with one of those 2 at 6 I'll be happy. If we go Isaac at 6, I'm definitely pulling for any way to get Juwan Evans.

I think that seems to bet he board consensus here.

Scenario 1). Take Isaac with the 6th and go after a sleeper PG in Jawun Evans with the 25th.

Scenario 2). Take DSJr with the 6th and focus on wings with the 25th. I'm looking at players like Dillon Brooks, Josh Hart, Terence Ferguson, Kennard or even Thornwell.

Personally I go with hidden Scenario 3. Make a call to Thibs and tell him you can have anybody on the roster not named Aaron Gordon for that 7th pick. Come out the draft with BOTH DSJr and Isaac. That would be a pure win.

I'd love that but I don't think Minnesota would covet any of our assets except for AG. They really need a defensive minded 4 or significant PG upgrade.

Sent from my SM-G930V using RealGM mobile app