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

[PrimeThyme]

When should we expect a possible return? Around All Star break?

October 2022. This season is over, I just can't see them bringing him back at this point.

[Magic_Kingdom]

It has now been *more than* 17 months since Isaac's injury, and as far as we know he still isn't practicing with the team.

[Injury was August 2, 2020].

Weltman's last update on Isaac was November 26, 2021, which was 39 days ago. In that interview he said Isaac was not at the point of "ramping up to live action" and was working on his core and balance. As far as I can tell from the interview, Weltman did not address whether Isaac had a setback, but I don't know if that specific question was asked. If it was then Weltman danced around it.

We're almost halfway through the season and at the bottom of the standings so I would say the odds of JI missing two consecutive full seasons are extremely high right now.

[KillMonger]

Is it that hard to say whether or not he had a setback or not? That has nothing to do with a time table.... Is he moving forward or has he taken a step back? All this vagueness is unnecessary imo because it's not going to give us a competitive advantage... Like trying hide him from the opps, keeping it a secret when he's coming back..... For what? We are last place....

The only way this makes any sense is if we're pulling injury tank shenanigans... But at some point the medicine/science is going to force their hand... Everyone has an estimate of how long it takes to recover from an ACL/MCL... Can't go too much longer without a definitive answer to whether he's ready or had a setback...

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[swarlesbarkley]

Is it that he hard to say whether or not he had a setback or not? That has nothing to do with a time table.... Is he moving forward or has he taken a step back? All this vagueness is unnecessary imo because it's not going to give us a competitive advantage... Like trying hide him from the opps, keeping it a secret when he's coming back..... For what? We are last place....

The only way this makes any sense is if we're pulling injury tank shenanigans... But at some point the medicine/science is going to force their hand... Everyone has an estimate of how long it takes to recover from an ACL/MCL... Can't go too much longer without a definitive answer to whether he's ready or had a setback...

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Playing Isaac wouldn't move Orlando outside of a top 4 pick. If leadership thinks that... yikes.

Playing Isaac and Fultz might - but only if they've both significantly improved their game from the last time we saw them.

[bigdogdylan5]

In regard to Isaac I think there is a couple incentives to hold him out and they are related
1.tanking
2. Muscle loss from rehab. I really think that is the problem (not some secret setback). He already was questionable and needed to get stronger in lower body to help with injuries and now if it’s worse why risk it until you KNOW he is absolutely 100% and I would argue in better condition then when he got hurt.

My guess is we don’t see him till next year and i am perfectly fine with that. This team needs one more top pick and the top 3 are PFs or PF/C. So either he comes back and great or his career is done and we have a top pick to plug in.

[j-ragg]

Fultz and Isaac are nowhere near being stars. If they came back from injury and reversed our tank we’d all be happy as hell.

[swarlesbarkley]

Fultz and Isaac are nowhere near being stars. If they came back from injury and reversed our tank we’d all be happy as hell.

Exactly. So I think the argument that they are keeping JI out to continue the tank is bogus. Which means JI most likely had a setback.

[BCS]

Fultz and Isaac are nowhere near being stars. If they came back from injury and reversed our tank we’d all be happy as hell.

Exactly. So I think the argument that they are keeping JI out to continue the tank is bogus. Which means JI most likely had a setback.

That is playing with fire. I am pretty sure they are just assuring a good enough cushion where if they come back and start playing well, let's say for the last 20 games winning half of those, we still have a high chance at a top pick and do not go from top 3 to let's say 8th best chances.

Top 3 chance for a top pick and a strong finish to the season I think is what the team wants. They are just making the cushion as big as they can before they bring Fultz back and maybe Isaac later

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[pepe1991]

We are not winning many games even with whole roster healty. Teams just play down to competition to us, just like they do to everybody else. If you look at results, Pistons are awful but they are not getting blown away all that much.
We have worst points differential in nba , we are not 2 role players away from winning 12 out of 20 or 18 out of 30 games.

Also at some point guy not playing 2 years just won't develop and will probably start to regress. And him sitting this year won't "save" him from injury next time when he takes a leap. We can sit him for 3 years and he can still get hurt on first day out.

[BCS]

We are not winning many games even with whole roster healty. Teams just play down to competition to us, just like they do to everybody else. If you look at results, Pistons are awful but they are not getting blown away all that much.
We have worst points differential in nba , we are not 2 role players away from winning 12 out of 20 or 18 out of 30 games.

Also at some point guy not playing 2 years just won't develop and will probably start to regress. And him sitting this year won't "save" him from injury next time when he takes a leap. We can sit him for 3 years and he can still get hurt on first day out.

I agree, if he can play Isaac should come back before the end of the year, if only to get some rust and doubts with the injury out of the way, holding him off for next year is just not a good look but might happen.

As for not winning too many games, there are 22 games after the all star break. At least 10 of those are winnable games against Pacers, Thunder, Rockets, Kings, Pelicans, Twolves & Pistons. I personally would not get too comfortable especially if we start getting healthy.

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[orthoman]

IMO, Adam Silver and the League should penalize the Magic for this unbelievable sitting of players due to "injuries".
We all know this is absolute bull**** and nonsense, and pitiful they are getting away with this.
Half the team are "injured".
Never seen this in 30+ years of following sports.
It makes me sick to my stomach that they are sitting their f****** players until next year.

[yoyojw17]

IMO, Adam Silver and the League should penalize the Magic for this unbelievable sitting of players due to "injuries".
We all know this is absolute bull**** and nonsense, and pitiful they are getting away with this.
Half the team are "injured".
Never seen this in 30+ years of following sports.
It makes me sick to my stomach that they are sitting their f****** players until next year.

We're at the halfway point of the season. lol. Relax... still a lot to go.

Hope it changes and we start seeing a more complete team on the court. I feel happy with what i've seen Cole and franz have done... and now we gotta see how they mesh with the other talent. I know people will say... "Another evaluation year" ... but part of the evaluation is seeing how it will all fit. fultz... Isaac ... and MCW will lift this team in many ways.

[orthoman]

Bull****
There is no reason why Fultz and Isaac are not on the court.
Isaac is being courted by Puerto Rico and he is communicating with their national team.
Where is MCW, Fultz and Isaac???

[Skybox]

Bull****
There is no reason why Fultz and Isaac are not on the court.
Isaac is being courted by Puerto Rico and he is communicating with their national team.
Where is MCW, Fultz and Isaac???

Based on your handle and your certainty, I assume you're the Magic's team doctor?

[pepe1991]

Jamal Murray posted him dunking windmell on instagram after 256 days of ACL tear. Matter of fact now Nuggets expect him to return before March.
This is laughable.

[Magic_Kingdom]

It seems like there's a gag order in place when it comes to Isaac. Cole was asked in an interview last month how Isaac was looking/progressing, and he didn't answer the question. He just said it would be nice to have him back because he would add a lot to the team.

[MagicFan101]

Returning or Retiring?

I’m starting to give up on him.

We have Franz and WCJ playing well at the forwards and a top 3 pick this year likely lands us another forward stud.

It might be time to forget about Isaac.

It pains me deeply to write this post.

[swarlesbarkley]

Returning or Retiring?

I’m starting to give up on him.

We have Franz and WCJ playing well at the forwards and a top 3 pick this year likely lands us another forward stud.

It might be time to forget about Isaac.

It pains me deeply to write this post.

I made the point back in October (I think?) that Isaac is worth more as a trade asset to us than he is as a player and that was just looking at how WCJ improved last year. Now looking at Wagner being a stud along with WCJ's improvements, it wouldn't surprise me if we're keeping him out to listen to trade offers to get out of his contract. He's got, what, like a .05% chance of hitting whatever his ceiling was coming out of college at this point? And that's not even considering future injuries which are probably inevitable at this point.

Basically IMO future plans for the Magic should not include Isaac. Isaac as a trade asset? Sure. But not Isaac as a player.

[Skybox]

Returning or Retiring?

I’m starting to give up on him.

We have Franz and WCJ playing well at the forwards and a top 3 pick this year likely lands us another forward stud.

It might be time to forget about Isaac.

It pains me deeply to write this post.

I made the point back in October (I think?) that Isaac is worth more as a trade asset to us than he is as a player and that was just looking at how WCJ improved last year. Now looking at Wagner being a stud along with WCJ, it wouldn't surprise me if we're keeping him out to listen to trade offers to get out of his contract. He's got, what, like a .05% chance of hitting whatever his ceiling was coming out of college at this point? And that's not even considering future injuries which are probably inevitable at this point.

Basically IMO future plans for the Magic should not include Isaac. Isaac as a trade asset? Sure. But not Isaac as a player.

It's possible...but, age is not a factor for our timeline and Isaac, when healthy, is the closest thing we have to an elite (at something) player. His absence maybe makes us forget how effective he and Franz could be as front court cornerstones-possibly with WCJ. Sadly, Bamba is unlikely to claim that spot in any definitive manner, so I still lean towards Isaac/WCJ being our bigs...Isaac would have tremendous trade value if he shows he's fully recovered, so I'm certainly not taking that off the table...it's just hard to imagine him being able to show that without a couple of solid seasons. Catch-22, really good player, no good trade value...might as well just get comfortable with him on the roster.

[nicnac215]

Jamal Murray posted him dunking windmell on instagram after 256 days of ACL tear. Matter of fact now Nuggets expect him to return before March.
This is laughable.

If the Magic had the reigning MVP I bet Fultz and or Isaac would be back already