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

[tiderulz]

I agree with this theory. Weltman confirmed this is what they were doing in the press conference.

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This is it right here, y'all.

He's being held out to strengthen his weak biomechanics which has led to repeated injury. It's that simple.

It's unprecedented, yes. But not all injured players have deep-set problems like JI clearly did.

Grant Hill comes to mind. If he were correctly diagnosed and given a proper strengthening plan, he wouldn't have reinjured himself and almost died. Better still, he wouldn't have been robbed of his prime -- on the Magic of all teams.

We gave him that extension because our FO invested in him because they believe in him. If we didn't, he goes elsewhere. WeltHam bet their chips on him and it's not that considerable of a bet considering we weren't going anywhere and aren't going anywhere anytime soon. I applaud the move, frankly.

I don't pretend to know JI will be an all star or superstar, but I do know that if we even think we have one in the making, we invest in him and do everything we can to see the investment pay off.

I'm not sure the bolded part is necessarily true. If not extend JI, what would WeltHam do with the money? Top notch free agents aren't coming to Orlando any time soon - I viewed the extension more along the lines of thinking it's really the only option they have. Can't let him walk because when healthy he is a positive player on the floor but also not betting on him being a franchise player either.

especially when they have an injury out-clause with him.

[OrlMagic05]

He's gonna come back with tree trunks for legs! Indestructible knees and ankles! he'll probably come back in the best shape of his life. lol.... We can hope. and if that's the case... ensuring the long-term health of a possible star player is the primary focus.

except he isnt a star player. not even close

He said possible star player.

[tiderulz]

He's gonna come back with tree trunks for legs! Indestructible knees and ankles! he'll probably come back in the best shape of his life. lol.... We can hope. and if that's the case... ensuring the long-term health of a possible star player is the primary focus.

except he isnt a star player. not even close

He said possible star player.

ahh, missed that word. still dont see it.

[Magic_Kingdom]

If the Magic's front office knew Isaac was also going to miss all of this season after missing all of last season and they still willingly signed him to that extension...

That is tough to justify.

I agree with this. I think it's easy to say "what else would Weltman do with the money, might as well gamble on Isaac," but successful franchises don't operate that way. At the end of the day Weltman has to explain to ownership why the highest-paid player on the team is spending the first year of his contract learning better balance. Maybe you do that for Zion or Grant Hill, but Isaac? He's not a star and it's a huge stretch to say he's even a potential star. He's 24 years old, in his 5th NBA season, and has never averaged more than 11.9 ppg and 6.8 rpg (in a season he only played 34 games because of two separate knee injuries).

There was an interesting interview with Cole Anthony a few days ago. They asked him how Isaac has looked. He doesn't answer that question. Just talks about his potential.

How has Jonathan Isaac looked, and what can he bring to this team when he returns?

CA: (Isaac) is a guy who’s one of the best defenders in the league when he’s healthy. On a young team where we want to defend, I think we need some help right now. I think we’re getting better. A guy like him is super valuable. Getting him back would be awesome. He can be the anchor of our defense, guard all positions, is super springy, and has a high motor. We need a guy like that.

[Skybox]

It's not like Isaac got a max...the gamble is limited, and appropriate given his potential contribution,IMO.

[yoyojw17]

except he isnt a star player. not even close

He said possible star player.

ahh, missed that word. still dont see it.

If the offensive outburst that he started exhibiting when he came back during the few minutes he played in his return holds any weight.... that in combination with his defensive prowess... makes him a possible star. The defense alone can nearly get him in that territory... along the Kirilenko type of star player. But... everyone has their own opinions and we'll see how he looks when he comes back.

[Skybox]

If you're in legitimate consideration for DPOY (and he clearly was when he got hurt...possibly even leading the pack), then you're a significant player. Easy to forget about the impact a defensive ace can have...especially such a long disruptive perimeter force. He had exceptional stats in both steals, deflections, and blocks but his impact was way beyond the stats.

Again...it's not like he got the max or that the team doesn't have some injury protections in the deal. Good, fair deal...if he comes back at 100% it's a steal. If not, then both sides at risk.

[Optimus_Steel]

Cant wait for page 100 of this thread...

[Last Guardian]

He could be a star but more like Draymond Green level with even better defense but less playmaking. Defense can make you a star. You can’t just be good though you have to be freaking phenomenal, like Ben Wallace.

As for the whole strengthening routine, I would normally say it’s BS but personal experience that not skipping leg day did lead to me eliminating knee pain. Not that I ever had bad knees but sometimes they felt weak when jogging, a couple weeks of strength workouts and it didn’t happen again.

looking at the whole picture I’m quite impressed with WeHam actually. If they cared about this season Isaac would be playing right now. They have zero interest in winning this season and they are just taking advantage of the situation. They have a very clear plan for tanking. This may even rival Philly strategy in the end

[Magic_Kingdom]

Almost 17 months since the injury?

Where’s Jonathan?

[RichCollab]

JI’s defense is so tantalizing. I want to see it again!

[Statlanta]

I'm getting Grant Hill vibes from JI. Seeing him more on commercials than in Amway.

[KillMonger]

I might be wrong but wasn't it a few months ago it was said he was shooting on the court? Am I wrong about that? If not then you're telling me there has been NO progress since then? Starting to feel like there is more to this than what they've said....maybe there has been a setback?

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[pepe1991]

Guy had setback or reinjuried himself . Weltman simply won't say it in public and nobody will even bother to ask because nobody cares what Orlando does in nba. So we can move on from that. He probably won't play this season at all or they will put him in mid February or March... or April for few games. But nobody recovers without setbacks from ACL tear for 17 months. Maybe if it's 1982, not in 2022.

[Furinkazan]

It’s starting to annoy me big time….either start playing or gtfo ….

[Magic_Kingdom]

Guy had setback or reinjuried himself . Weltman simply won't say it in public and nobody will even bother to ask because nobody cares what Orlando does in nba. So we can move on from that. He probably won't play this season at all or they will put him in mid February or March... or April for few games. But nobody recovers without setbacks from ACL tear for 17 months. Maybe if it's 1982, not in 2022.

If any media outlets actually covered this team then I assume someone would be asking questions. Weltman pops his head out once every two months and gaslights us and says nothing. I see other teams provide updates on their injured players, especially their highest-paid players, but the Magic exist in an information vacuum and don't care about their fans.

[davey_wavy]

I fully healed way quicker from a more significant knee injury at a way more advanced age and I'm not nearly as athletic as JI. Something don't add up

[SOUL]

Guy had setback or reinjuried himself . Weltman simply won't say it in public and nobody will even bother to ask because nobody cares what Orlando does in nba. So we can move on from that. He probably won't play this season at all or they will put him in mid February or March... or April for few games. But nobody recovers without setbacks from ACL tear for 17 months. Maybe if it's 1982, not in 2022.

He did though. The setback was reinjuring the same knee 6 months later.. don't get what people don't understand about that lol

[pepe1991]

Guy had setback or reinjuried himself . Weltman simply won't say it in public and nobody will even bother to ask because nobody cares what Orlando does in nba. So we can move on from that. He probably won't play this season at all or they will put him in mid February or March... or April for few games. But nobody recovers without setbacks from ACL tear for 17 months. Maybe if it's 1982, not in 2022.

He did though. The setback was reinjuring the same knee 6 months later.. don't get what people don't understand about that lol

Not sure what execlly are you refering to.
He had hyperexstended knee. Normal player need 4 to 8 weeks to recover. Isaac needed 8 months.
Than he torn ACL after playing 30 min of basketball. Than Magic decided to slap him with 4 years contracts.
Nobody has seen him play basketball since. From January 2020 to verge of 2022, Jonathan Isaac played 31 min of basketball for Orlando. And costed them $30M. Guy literally made 1 000 000 for every minute he played in last 2 calendar years.

So yea... he either has degenerative knee issues or he reinjuried himself during rehab.

In both cases re-sign him on blind makes them look like bunch of incompetent fools. Witch is execlly what Weltman and Hammond are anyway.

I mean look... You have nba player that is out for at least year, who is nba role player. Matter of fact you have two of them. Both have qulifing offers during first year off rehab. What's the logic behind re-signing them before they can even play basketball ? You really fear somebody is going to snatch point guard with fundamentally broken jumpshot and injury prone PF role player?

It was awful decision at times, it aged even worst. Year passed by, half of season is behind us, non of them still can play. Their first year of new contracts is complete waste.

[tiderulz]

Guy had setback or reinjuried himself . Weltman simply won't say it in public and nobody will even bother to ask because nobody cares what Orlando does in nba. So we can move on from that. He probably won't play this season at all or they will put him in mid February or March... or April for few games. But nobody recovers without setbacks from ACL tear for 17 months. Maybe if it's 1982, not in 2022.

He did though. The setback was reinjuring the same knee 6 months later.. don't get what people don't understand about that lol

Not sure what execlly are you refering to.
He had hyperexstended knee. Normal player need 4 to 8 weeks to recover. Isaac needed 8 months.
Than he torn ACL after playing 30 min of basketball. Than Magic decided to slap him with 4 years contracts.
Nobody has seen him play basketball since. From January 2020 to verge of 2022, Jonathan Isaac played 31 min of basketball for Orlando. And costed them $30M. Guy literally made 1 000 000 for every minute he played in last 2 calendar years.

So yea... he either has degenerative knee issues or he reinjuried himself during rehab.

In both cases re-sign him on blind makes them look like bunch of incompetent fools. Witch is execlly what Weltman and Hammond are anyway.

I mean look... You have nba player that is out for at least year, who is nba role player. Matter of fact you have two of them. Both have qulifing offers during first year off rehab. What's the logic behind re-signing them before they can even play basketball ? You really fear somebody is going to snatch point guard with fundamentally broken jumpshot and injury prone PF role player?

It was awful decision at times, it aged even worst. Year passed by, half of season is behind us, non of them still can play. Their first year of new contracts is complete waste.

supposedly his contract had an Exhibit 3 clause in there, which could limit or cancel his money from salary cap. remains to be seen if and when they use it.