Jonathan Isaac remains the best young talent on a Magic team filled with players age 23 and younger, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Isaac is sitting out the entire season after suffering a torn ACL last August, but he still has the potential to be the cornerstone of the organization and a future candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, according to Robbins.
The obvious question about Isaac involves durability, as he played just 34 games last season and only 27 in his rookie year of 2017/18. There are also concerns about his development on offense, as Robbins notes that he hasn’t excelled yet as either a shooter or passer. Even so, Robbins sees him as the most valuable asset on the roster.
Markelle Fultz, who has injury issues of his own, ranks second on Robbins’ list, followed by Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony, Mohamed Bamba, R.J. Hampton and Donta Hall.
There’s more from Orlando:
- A six-game losing streak has the Magic back in line for the best odds for the June 22 lottery, notes Roy Parry of The Orlando Sentinel. The teams with the three worst records will each have a 14% chance to land the top pick, and the Magic have slid into second place, percentage points ahead of the Timberwolves and a half-game in front of the Pistons. Parry examines Orlando’s chances of finishing in the bottom three and finds that the team has the league’s 16th-toughest schedule the rest of the way. You can follow the race for draft position in our Reverse Standings.
- Otto Porter Jr. continues to get daily treatment on his painful left foot, but the Magic don’t know when he might play again, said interim coach Tyrone Corbin (Twitter link via Parry). Acquired from the Bulls at the trade deadline, Porter has only appeared in three games for Orlando and hasn’t played since April 3. “Some days he’s on the floor, he’ll come out and shoot a little bit and see how he responds,” Corbin said, “and if it’s a positive thing they increase his work a little bit, but if it’s not as good they kind of have to pull him back. But he’s in there every day trying to work it on out and trying to get back on the floor.”
- Big man Moritz Wagner, who signed with the Magic on Tuesday, could make his debut tonight in Cleveland, according to Parry (Twitter link).
2 lottery picks this year and a couple talented players on the mend. Pretty underrated rebuild for the Magic.
Didn’t know they scooped Hampton from that Gordon deal. They made some nice moves!
Fultz and Isaac are never healthy and the magic haven’t even been through Wendell Carter sitting out 30 games a season for bumps and bruises, they are a dead franchise
The only magic trick Orlando knows how to do is a disappearing act.
He is not good tho
They traded away all their good players. The Magic will continue being a lottery team for the foreseeable future, just like OKC.
Isaac is for real. He and Fultz are solid young pieces along with Carter. That’s their core to me. The young guys have to grow. A top 5 pick is another core piece. Magic have good young talent. Jalen Green would bring the Magic back.
Bamba has looked good, Anthony has met expectations. Hampton played well the other night. They have Ross for trade as well. Fultz md Isaac will grow. It was time to rebuild!
Ross enjoys being on a mediocre to now suck team. Didn’t he have a chance to go to the blazers(his hometown team), but refused to?
The magic don’t have a plan, hence why they do not deserve a lottery pick.