As we relayed on Thursday, rookie Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is on track to play on Friday night for the first time in 2018. Speaking today to reporters, head coach Frank Vogel confirmed that Isaac will make his return to the court, but cautioned that last year’s sixth overall pick will be on a minutes limit. As Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel tweets, Isaac will play about 15 minutes in his first game back from an ankle injury.
Here’s more on the Magic:
- Aaron Gordon recently admitted that it’s a challenge to stay in the present and not think about his upcoming free agency, as John Denton of the team’s official site writes. “Of course, of course, I worry,” said Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent in July. “It’s natural and it’s human to worry. But you work on your mentality so that you can enjoy the present moment instead of worrying. If you’re so caught up in what’s happened or what’s going to happen, you can’t fully enjoy what’s happening right now.”
- Elsewhere at the Magic’s official site, Dan Savage takes an in-depth look at Nikola Vucevic‘s recovery from a broken bone in his hand, detailing how even a fairly common injury for an NBA player can result in a long, arduous rehab process. Vucevic, who suffered the injury just before Christmas, returned to action after the All-Star break.
- Speaking of injured Magic players, Terrence Ross – who has been on the shelf since the end of November with a knee injury – had a small setback in February and is probably still a few weeks away from returning, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel wrote earlier this week.
The Magic should not let Gordon go, a combination of him and Isaac would be great to watch grow together. They should focus on drafting Luka Doncic to play the 2 and take a chance on Isaiah Thomas to run the point. Gives them a veteran leader and floor general at the point guard position and Doncic can run the 2 and serve as a shooter and play-maker.
Thomas-Doncic-Gordon-Isaac-Nikola
As long as Isaac is he could probably play center depending on how much muscle mass he puts on over the summer.
Thomas with Gordon and Isaacs as the forwards would be a good combination. The Fs are talented but perhaps not creative. But if they follow IT’s lead and pick&roll that deficit is reduced. And there would be plenty of shotblocking behind IT!
The only issue with landing Isiah is that the Magic already have $84M on their books for next year. Add in about $5M more for Doncic, and that only leaves about $12M to spend in Free Agency. With Gordon’s Cap hold, that leaves even less. I don’t think the Magic will have enough dollars to get IT, even with him not getting the “Brinks truck”.
Thomas just wants to play for an organization which wants him, I think he is over all the brinks truck stuff. Focused on love more then money right now.
Who knew that in addition to being a popular sex and relationships writer Dan Savage was a basketball fan?
I do like that idea of IT. The second unit would b pretty solid with Fournier leading the charge there. That’s if they got a starting off guard in the draft.