No elephant in the room, What do we do about J.Isaac

[three3d]

I don’t understand how a what was called a “leg cramp” has turned into two games out possibly three and now being called “right hamstring soreness “ BUT this is the life with Jonathan Issac I suppose. When the team needs him the most he’s not available and when he is playing he’s still on a minutes restriction apparently. The added 50 pounds over the summer just an absolutely baffling decision with his injury history has slowed him down it appears also. It’s not personal against him, he could have been a hell of a player had it not been for the injuries and even with them we still see shorts sparks of that guy. But I think we need a breath of fresh air, after all your best ability is your availability and we simply can’t roster JI and WCJ together anymore. He’s a fitting piece for a championship contending team, so what would be a reasonable team and asset to target with him?

[Knightro]

Wait for him to be ready and play him 15-20 MPG as the backup PF when he's ready to play.

Starting next year he's only making $15M which is less than 10% of the salary cap and declining. Even if he's only able to play 15 MPG for 60 games, that's worth $15M a year for what he provides defensively when he's available.

I would assume he'll also be told to shed weight this offseason.

[three3d]

Wait for him to be ready and play him 15-20 MPG as the backup PF when he's ready to play.

Starting next year he's only making $15M which is less than 10% of the salary cap and declining. Even if he's only able to play 15 MPG for 60 games, that's worth $15M a year for what he provides defensively when he's available.

I would assume he'll also be told to shed weight this offseason.

I understand his contract is really team friendly and probably is a bargain especially given the new dynamics of salary cap, but at what point are we just tired of it?

[Bergmaniac]

He added 30 pounds in the summer, not 50, and he just had his longest stretch of games played in a row since 2020.

[three3d]

At 27 years old would he be worth a late first round pick to say a team like Boston or OKC four or five years down the road? A first round pick sounds ridiculous unless you’re a team like those two that aren’t going to be picking top 15 more than likely.

[three3d]

He added 30 pounds in the summer, not 50, and he just had his longest stretch of games played in a row since 2020.

But still on a minutes restriction. This seems like another situation we hold onto an asset till it has no real value anymore.

[Knightro]

He added 30 pounds in the summer, not 50, and he just had his longest stretch of games played in a row since 2020.

But still on a minutes restriction. This seems like another situation we hold onto an asset till it has no real value anymore.

His value is tied to what he brings on the court defensively. There's no need to trade him. What he provides in 15 MPG is more valuable than anything they'd ever get for him in a deal.

I think he should lose 15-20 lbs this offseason and not worry about trying to play center and just instead be a 4 who can shift up to the 3 or down to the 5 for VERY short stretches either direction.

[thelead]

I find this topic funny... when you find another 7 ft that can play his level of defense for 10% of the cap, you can replace him. Good luck finding that guy.

He has played 21 of 26 games this season. And if we're being honest, our medical staff is ultra conservative with injuries so he would likely play more on other teams.

[Orlando Dawg]

Untradable and more valued to the magic than any other team he will retire in Orlando. We just have to deal with it and enjoy it.

[basketballRob]

Isaac is like a relief pitcher. He can't start but is really valuable.

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[three3d]

"“I certainly believe by 2030 we will have won at least one championship,” Martins said. “And I say ‘at least.’ I firmly believe we’re going to get there and once you get there, you got the kind of team that hopefully can come back. I believe we will have won a championship.”"

https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2016/12/12/alex-martins-orlando-magic-will-champs-2030/

Believe it or not we are on a time line, those words are directly from Martins himself. Realistically with the current organic mainly in house approach we’re probably 3-5 years away from becoming a Finals level threat in the East, sorry I just don’t see Boston going away that fast or NY. It kinda feels like we are pretenders right now, seriously what’s JI going to be like 3,4,5 years from now? How about KCP? 15-20 minutes off the bench from Isaac is nice for a championship team, not a team trying to build to be that team in 5 years.

[OrlandoDream]

JI going nowhere. His role here is to be unleashed for the playoffs.

[RookieStar]

What do we do with him? We unleash him when the time is right.

[SloNick Russia]

I get when other NBA fans question JI value but how Magic fans who witness his impact on our team time and time again keep on doing it is beyond me. Dude is one of the most impactfull players in the NBA on his shifts.

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[three3d]

I get when other NBA fans question JI value but how Magic fans who witness his impact on our team time and time again keep on doing it is beyond me. Dude is one of the most impactfull players in the NBA on his shifts.

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And got a leg cramp 3 games ago that’s kept him out the last two game

[KillMonger]

Not just him, what's going on with Gary Harris man? How many games has he missed so far for a hammy? We need to start thinking about getting rid of the dead money on this roster

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[Last Guardian]

He's had minor injuries since coming back, don't really thinks its that big of a deal.

[fendilim]

One of the best defenders in the league. He is a career backup. Regardless of his limited minutes, his effect on the floor is worth more than his salary.

[Fortune Teller]

It seems that there are two different ways you can look at JI:

1) Micro: You can focus on what he does when he's on the court and call him impactful, despite his limited minutes; or,

2) Macro: You can look at the big picture and wonder how much value he really adds, particularly with a $25 million salary this season, when he's completely unreliable.

Even if you're in the Micro group, you'd have to admit no other team in the league would still be putting up with his lack of availability in Year 8 just because he's impactful on defense for 12 minutes a game, when he actually plays.

And as for unleashing him in the playoffs -- he was absolutely washed in the playoffs last year. He looked worn down and ineffective, and when the intensity turns up in the playoffs, it likely nullifies some of the advantages he has during the regular season.

[three3d]

It seems that there are two different ways you can look at JI:

1) Micro: You can focus on what he does when he's on the court and call him impactful, despite his limited minutes; or,

2) Macro: You can look at the big picture and wonder how much value he really adds, particularly with a $25 million salary this season, when he's completely unreliable.

Even if you're in the Micro group, you'd have to admit no other team in the league would still be putting up with his lack of availability in Year 8 just because he's impactful on defense for 12 minutes a game, when he actually plays.

And as for unleashing him in the playoffs -- he was absolutely washed in the playoffs last year. He looked worn down and ineffective, and when the intensity turns up in the playoffs, it likely nullifies some of the advantages he has during the regular season.

Well said! For me last year was a feel good story , this year it’s just not feeling the same. It’s not to say he can’t play, but he’s also not playing. I don’t know, I think he fits a championship team and getting a future draft pick or something in return might be better for us in 3-5 years when we reach that window.