In a loaded 2017 NBA Draft class, Jonathan Isaac has become the prospect that no one is talking about
Rookies Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr., Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum all enter the season as the favorites for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.
But just because he didn’t get to play in Vegas doesn’t mean we can sleep on Jonathan Isaac. The Orlando Magic will look to make something out of the 6-foot-10 wing out of Tallahassee.
Jonathan Isaac has been one of the least talked about top rookies heading into the offseason. The Orlando Magic not partaking in the Las Vegas Summer League is a major reason for Isaac’s lack of coverage and preseason hype.
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Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the big prospect out of Florida State.
The Orlando Magic selected Isaac with the sixth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Isaac is only the second one-and-done player in Florida State history, joining Malik Beasley from last season.
Along with coming from a program that has just recently churned out prospects such as Isaac, Beasley, and Dwayne Bacon, the freshman’s college numbers were inferior to a handful of other lottery picks in the 2017 Draft.
Isaac averaged just 12 points, 7.8 rebounds and a little over one assist per game – numbers that don’t exactly scream top 10 selection, so why did the Orlando Magic take him so high?
Isaac’s athleticism and intangibles are something to truly be reckoned with. Playing at 6-foot-10 with a 9-foot standing reach, he has the innate ability to block shots (1.5 BPG at FSU) and rebound the ball (7.8 RPG). Isaac also shot 51 percent from the field, 35 percent from deep, and 78 percent from the free throw line.
Isaac also possesses a winning track record and unguardable height and length for the perimeter offense he plays.
When commenting on Isaac’s game, Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton said:
"[via NBA.com]“[Jonathan’s] extremely unselfish. He’s a cerebral player. He thinks the games through. He tries to play the game the right way. … Defensively, he takes challenges. He blocks shots. He rebounds.”"
This type of all-around player is something the Orlando Magic are in desperate need of. In the introductory press conference of Orlando’s draftees, head coach Frank Vogel talked about the importance of players able to play a multitude of positions.
Highlighting the starting and backups at the wing position (shooting guard, small forward, and power forward), Vogel claimed:
"“Obviously Jonathan’s very young and he’s gonna learn a lot from Aaron [Gordon], but he’s gonna be one of those six guys that you throw them in there and they all play similar positions and similar roles.”"
Vogel even flirted with the idea of playing Isaac as the “stretch-five” in a smaller lineup. We’ve seen the Golden State Warriors do similar things with Draymond Green or Kevin Durant, with plenty of success.
It will be important, however, to give the young man time to develop. A player like Jonathan Isaac may take a few years to completely grow into his huge body and freakish athleticism. So while he may not be a frontrunner for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, the tools are all there for him to turn into a future NBA superstar.