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

[basketballRob]

You guys jump to too many conclusions. It's ridiculous to assume that he doesn't really care about basketball anymore and wants to be a right wing media personality once he inevitably retires any day now. And then it's ridiculous to then assume even more things about why he has the views he has and his motivations behind them.

He almost certainly has a daily workout/rehab schedule designed by the medical staff. After that, he can spend his time however he wants. Give it a rest with some of this nonsense.

Thank you!

We live in a strange world where we judge people based on their social media accounts. The one thing I don’t get is why JI or especially the Magic don’t update the fans. Just protect your player for a bad rep.

We just don’t know if JI is up at 6 in the morning working on his body. We don’t know if management had told him not to rush anything because the season is a big loss already. We don’t know anything.

I’m going to assume management/trainers are doing everything to get JI ready or keep up his little trade value.

Weltman has said that Isaac is doing everything they ask of him.

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[The Real Dalic]

JI may be "original" in that his views are different from a majority of NBA players but he is most definitely not original in comparison to alt-right conservative Americans which is why he's starting to pander to them for clothing/book/doc sales.

JI seems like a guy who is doing the minimum to act like he cares about the Orlando Magic and basketball in general but clearly has his mind set on something other than basketball in the short and long term.

Regardless of political affiliation, how many NBA players have used their rehab time to appear on non basketball related talk shows/interviews to promote sales of a non basketball related personal product?

JI's views are conservative, not alt-right. For some reason, liberals like you think every conservative is alt-right. JI should be applauded for his views and thoughtful commentary, instead liberals would rather silence anything that doesn't 100% of the time agree with their POV. Sad.

He will be applauded by those who support his views and criticised by those who don’t. If disagreement means silence then Isaac is trying to silence other voices simply by standing in opposition. If you recognise his actions as standing against something then recognise something is standing against his beliefs, too.

I’ve got no interest in his book beyond a curisoisty into how he handled the turn of events as a Christian man refusing to take a knee for another movement and then having his knee taken from him - arguably by god via his beliefs - and how he reconciled that. He seems to have taken it as a calling to continue further down that road instead of being humbled and focusing more on basketball.

I won't get into the implications you make about his knee, because wow. But he was the only one focusing more on basketball while standing while the rest the league was thinking about sending a political message. No need for him to have humbled himself. The rest of the league needed to.

[MagicHolland]

You guys jump to too many conclusions. It's ridiculous to assume that he doesn't really care about basketball anymore and wants to be a right wing media personality once he inevitably retires any day now. And then it's ridiculous to then assume even more things about why he has the views he has and his motivations behind them.

He almost certainly has a daily workout/rehab schedule designed by the medical staff. After that, he can spend his time however he wants. Give it a rest with some of this nonsense.

Thank you!

We live in a strange world where we judge people based on their social media accounts. The one thing I don’t get is why JI or especially the Magic don’t update the fans. Just protect your player for a bad rep.

We just don’t know if JI is up at 6 in the morning working on his body. We don’t know if management had told him not to rush anything because the season is a big loss already. We don’t know anything.

I’m going to assume management/trainers are doing everything to get JI ready or keep up his little trade value.

Weltman has said that Isaac is doing everything they ask of him.

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Well yeah, and I expect him to. It’s his job. But still as a fan I’d like a little more insight on timetables and/or setbacks etc.

[basketballRob]

I think Isaac is prohibited to go on basketball-related media shows. A lot of teams do this. Remember Embiid being injured that whole time and he wasn't able to give any updates to the media?

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[basketballRob]

Thank you!

We live in a strange world where we judge people based on their social media accounts. The one thing I don’t get is why JI or especially the Magic don’t update the fans. Just protect your player for a bad rep.

We just don’t know if JI is up at 6 in the morning working on his body. We don’t know if management had told him not to rush anything because the season is a big loss already. We don’t know anything.

I’m going to assume management/trainers are doing everything to get JI ready or keep up his little trade value.

Weltman has said that Isaac is doing everything they ask of him.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM Forums mobile app

Well yeah, and I expect him to. It’s his job. But still as a fan I’d like a little more insight on timetables and/or setbacks etc.

Weltman said that he hasn't had any setbacks.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Xatticus]

You guys jump to too many conclusions. It's ridiculous to assume that he doesn't really care about basketball anymore and wants to be a right wing media personality once he inevitably retires any day now. And then it's ridiculous to then assume even more things about why he has the views he has and his motivations behind them.

He almost certainly has a daily workout/rehab schedule designed by the medical staff. After that, he can spend his time however he wants. Give it a rest with some of this nonsense.

I want to be cautious here, not because I consider this off limits on a basketball forum, but because I don't want anyone to misconstrue the message, so I will preface by stating that I believe it is any individual's right to seek their own path. I'm an advocate for individual freedoms, even though we may not like what individuals do with the freedoms they are given. I'm most assuredly not talking about an individual's right not to wear a mask. That's a moronic conversation that has nothing to do with freedom whatsoever.

I don't want to be critical of Jonathan Isaac's right to make his own choices, even if I may very much disagree with those choices. Believe it or not, it is the right of any individual to be as bigoted as they please so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others. I may not like it when my neighbor has an oversized confederate flag on the back wall of his garage on full display for all to see, but it is his right to put it there.

Let's be frank this... Isaac isn't being paraded around for his transcendental wisdom. He isn't being paraded around for his life experiences. He isn't being paraded around because of his basketball skill. He is being paraded around because he decided not to kneel. He is the 'black friend' for a bunch of people that are cognizant of the perception of racism fostered by their actions and words. It is Isaac's right to choose this path, just as it is the right of any drunk 18-year-old on spring break to appear in a 'Girls Gone Wild' video.

So why do I bother to bring this up? None of this was in Isaac's background before he was drafted. Isaac posted a photo shortly after he joined the organization that displayed his care package laid out on a bed. Among the items were RDV books. I thought that was very bad form. I've certainly gone through the indoctrination process when starting a new job, so I wouldn't say this is really out of the ordinary, but I have always assumed that everyone ignores that crap. What if some people actually take it to heart though? Perhaps we aren't a destination for reasons that aren't related to basketball or geographic location. I can tell you this... if I were a competing organization, it's a weapon I would use for a competitive advantage.

There wouldn't really be a conversation here if Isaac was discussing basketball, but he isn't. He is finding time to discuss many things, but there is complete silence on what he is getting paid $17M per year to do. There is complete silence on what everyone on this forum is presumably here for.

[The Real Dalic]

All of this drama, and in some cases, hatred of Isaac is the FO's fault. No one would care outside of political people about what Isaac was doing right now if the FO told the fans what was going on with him in terms of his health and basketball.

They are genuinely doing a disservice to Isaac and the fans with the absolutely horrible way they're handling this.

Someone already mentioned Zion, that person is 100% correct. Zion keeps injuring himself and setting himself back because of his weight, and no one really talks about it that much anymore. The fans know whats going on and are focused on their team. I'm sure his name still comes up all the time. But at least they know what's going on.

This FO needs to change course on this, imo. Isaac and the FO are losing fans by the minute with this bizarre decision to have Isaac cloaked in darkness.

[The Real Dalic]

And here come the "Conservatives are racist so they're using a black person to prop up" crowd.

*sigh*

Weltham, you guys have absolutely screwed this one up. I really don't want to be reading Leftists diagnosing problems that aren't there for Conservatives when clicking on an Isaac injury update thread.

[swarlesbarkley]

I think Isaac is prohibited to go on basketball-related media shows. A lot of teams do this. Remember Embiid being injured that whole time and he wasn't able to give any updates to the media?

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Might be true but I highly doubt it since Fultz is allowed to.

[swarlesbarkley]

More problems with your assumptions:

1) in some cases think (his views) are more harmful than anything

2) Ben Shapiro is at the very least "radical conservative" and in a lot of cases "alt-right"

Let's be real man. You are just someone who dislikes conservatives and loves spewing liberal talking points. Ben Shapiro is far from a radical conservative. Unfortunately for those on the left, he is a very bright guy who speaks well and constantly makes liberals look like fools which is why he has gotten that rep.

His views are not "more harmful than anything." Again, this is what people on the left think but all you need to do is open your eyes to what a Biden presidency had done to this country over the last year and realize that maybe its your views that are "more harmful that anything."

We really don't need to go down this road. I think it's interesting that I provided information and context without ever mentioning anything about you and/or your character while your reply was to come at me.

You are right, we don't need to go down this road. But it is very lefty of you to throw shade against conservatives and then say its time to move on. Right on cue. My point was and still is your snobbish tone against conservatives is wrong and if you open your eyes in real life and you will realize that snobbish tone lacks real world awareness.

I wanted to stop going down this road because it most likely leads to you getting some sort of suspension from the board and this thread getting shut down. I want to discuss JI and his return to basketball so I hope that doesn't happen. It's a very fascinating situation - lengthy rehab, cryptic updates, a player promoting non-basketball related personal merchandise while notably not speaking to the media about basketball. It's all very curious.

Appreciate the last personal shots in a "let's move on" message, though.

[Def Swami]

Read on Twitter

[basketballRob]

I think Isaac is prohibited to go on basketball-related media shows. A lot of teams do this. Remember Embiid being injured that whole time and he wasn't able to give any updates to the media?

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Might be true but I highly doubt it since Fultz is allowed to.

Fultz was already healed and just conditioning when they allowed him to interview.

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[The Real Dalic]

Read on Twitter

We're still talking weeks with Fultz? That is insane.

[tooler]

We're still talking weeks with Fultz? That is insane.

I just listened to the clip and it sounds more like Weltman doesn't know what Fultz's timeline is exactly and he's just throwing something out there to keep the conversation moving. I'm not sure that makes me feel any better. Surely he knows exactly what's going on...?

https://969thegame.iheart.com/featured/open-mike/content/2022-01-11-are-fultz-and-isaac-finally-nearing-a-return-for-the-magic/ (around the 6:15 mark)

[Def Swami]

I don't think it has to do with whether Isaac is liberal or conservative. It's just a weird way to occupy all of your time and shape your image in the world as a young NBA player trying to recover from an injury. If he were on MSNBC doing segments with Rachel Maddow, without any public acknowledgement of his basketball career, the Orlando Magic, or his desire to get back on the court, it would still be kind of weird. Like others have mentioned, there has been almost nothing from Isaac himself about basketball. So I don't know how he feels about it, his career, the team, his recovery. But, I know everything about his book.

To be honest, I also don't really care anymore? I just don't think he was ever good enough a basketball player to warrant this level of angst. As much time as he has missed due to injury with as little offensive production he had, he's the 2020s MKG in my eyes. He's a replaceable role player. Franz Wagner took 4 months to show me more than Isaac did in 4 years. It was always premature to give him an extension. It was a dumb move by the front office and there's low chance they'll get good value out of that deal. At this point, I'm more interested in Isaac as a trade asset whenever he returns.

[swarlesbarkley]

I don't think it has to do with whether Isaac is liberal or conservative. It's just a weird way to occupy all of your time and shape your image in the world as a young NBA player trying to recover from an injury. If he were on MSNBC doing segments with Rachel Maddow, without any public acknowledgement of his basketball career, the Orlando Magic, or his desire to get back on the court, it would still be kind of weird. Like others have mentioned, there has been almost nothing from Isaac himself about basketball. So I don't know how he feels about it, his career, the team, his recovery. But, I know everything about his book.

To be honest, I also don't really care anymore? I just don't think he was ever good enough a basketball player to warrant this level of angst. As much time as he has missed due to injury with as little offensive production he had, he's the 2020s MKG in my eyes. He's a replaceable role player. Franz Wagner took 4 months to show me more than Isaac did in 4 years. It was always premature to give him an extension. It was a dumb move by the front office and there's low chance they'll get good value out of that deal. At this point, I'm more interested in Isaac as a trade asset whenever he returns.

Agree on all accounts.

[FFBlitzace]

Look, I'm frustrated and I want information too. It's been a long time since his injury and I really can't ever recall a player being out so long with nothing but radio silence. But lack of information is not a reason to fabricate our own information to fill the gap. The only safe assumption we can make is that he has a rehab program designed by Magic staff and that he does what is asked of him. Beyond that, we know nothing. Which, again, is very frustrating, but it is what it is.

The political side of things is actually completely irrelevant, it only serves to exacerbate the frustration. The reality is, young(ish) liberals tend to be highly intolerant of conservative views. This isn't just me trying to dunk on liberals, it's objective truth that's plain to see for anyone that spends time on the internet. So when you take a very frustrating basketball issue, and then throw something like Isaac's political views onto that fire, the frustration becomes more than a basketball thing and we start seeing unwarranted statements being made about his character. The solution is to get him back on the court and making an impact. At which point I suspect people really won't care all that much who he votes for. I loathe LeBron James but if he had ever been a Magic player and led us to championships, that would be awesome.

[drsd]

For me, by declining the vaccination protocol, Isaac was not prioritising his health. Yes he had that right, but if I was management, I would really question my employee on why there is not an absolute strive for total maximal capacity.

Anyhow, this is all becoming moo for me. F-Wagner is the SF and Carter is the PF. Trade Isaac for "some Center". And end this nonsense.

..

[Bensational]

JI's views are conservative, not alt-right. For some reason, liberals like you think every conservative is alt-right. JI should be applauded for his views and thoughtful commentary, instead liberals would rather silence anything that doesn't 100% of the time agree with their POV. Sad.

He will be applauded by those who support his views and criticised by those who don’t. If disagreement means silence then Isaac is trying to silence other voices simply by standing in opposition. If you recognise his actions as standing against something then recognise something is standing against his beliefs, too.

I’ve got no interest in his book beyond a curisoisty into how he handled the turn of events as a Christian man refusing to take a knee for another movement and then having his knee taken from him - arguably by god via his beliefs - and how he reconciled that. He seems to have taken it as a calling to continue further down that road instead of being humbled and focusing more on basketball.

I won't get into the implications you make about his knee, because wow. But he was the only one focusing more on basketball while standing while the rest the league was thinking about sending a political message. No need for him to have humbled himself. The rest of the league needed to.

No implications there, it’s a genuine question for me. It has always felt like a giant ironic elephant in the room and I’m curious how it impacts someone who devotes their life beliefs to a framework to then, in someways, feel like that’s thrown back in their face by external forces. I know the ultimate resolution is acceptance of that which is out of his hands, I’d just like to know what the time and thought process was like leading up to that.

As a non-Christian I wouldn’t have that belief narrative to fall back on, so if I went through a similar situation and made a political stand with a comparable fallout (unrelated physical accident) I imagine it would have been humbling for me and made me choose focal priorities in life, and mine would have been a recommitment to my professional career.

His response is very alien to me, and I’d like to understand it. But not enough to want to read his entire book to see if it’s in there.

[MagicStarwipe]

The reality is, young(ish) liberals tend to be highly intolerant of conservative views. This isn't just me trying to dunk on liberals, it's objective truth that's plain to see for anyone that spends time on the internet.

Are you really implying that this is not also the case in the opposite direction? Especially religious conservatives.

Also, what qualifies as a conservative view? Is "I don't want to do anything to mitigate the spread of a deadly virus in a pandemic" a conservative view now?

I have no problem with conservative views as long as those views are actually policy related like taxes or whatever and not along the lines of gays are bad, immigrants are dirty criminals etc.