Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters, including Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link), that forward Jonathan Isaac and guard Jalen Suggs were a “full go” in Monday’s practice. While that is certainly an encouraging update, there is still no return timetable for either player, tweets Price.
The Magic are notoriously cautious when it comes to injured players, but Isaac’s absence has been exceptionally long even by their standards. He last played on August 2, 2020, when he tore his ACL, so he has missed nearly two-and-a-half years of action.
As for Suggs, he has missed 18 consecutive games with right ankle soreness. The 21-year-old has unfortunately been plagued by injuries since he was selected fifth overall in the 2021 draft. After playing in 48 of 82 games as a rookie, he has appeared in just 14 of 37 games thus far in 2022/23.
Here are a few more notes from the Eastern Conference:
- Heat guard Tyler Herro, who signed a four-year extension before the season started worth a guaranteed $120MM, is emerging as a go-to clutch scorer, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Herro hit his third game-winner of ’22/23 on Saturday in Utah, Chiang notes, capping off a 29-point, nine-rebound, six-assist effort.
- Victor Oladipo has had a difficult stretch over the past four years, missing a significant amount of time due to a series of leg injuries. While he has played strong defense since returning from left knee tendinosis, he has mostly struggled offensively. However, the Heat guard broke out of his slump by recording 23 points, five rebounds and five assists on Saturday. Head coach Erik Spoelstra believes it could take most of the season for him to really find his rhythm, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I told him the other day, I want him to have a little bit of grace with himself going through this process,” Spoelstra said as part of a larger quote. “We love being on this journey with him and, ultimately, I think it will still take 40 or 50 games for him to get fully in rhythm. But we got a snapshot of what it could look like at the end of this.” Oladipo has now played 11 games in ’22/23, and the Heat have 45 games remaining on their regular season schedule.
- Sixers star Joel Embiid is questionable for Monday’s contest against New Orleans, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. All-NBA center is dealing with lower back soreness. Embiid is having another excellent season, posting career highs in points (33.2, second in the NBA), assists (4.6), steals (1.2) and FG% (.528).
- After missing the past three games with right hip soreness, point guard Jalen Brunson will return to action for Monday’s matinee against Phoenix, the Knicks announced (via Twitter). Derrick Rose, who had been out of the rotation until Brunson got hurt, will be sidelined with a contused left knee, per the Knicks (Twitter link).
Aside from injuries I feel like the situation in Orlando with so many ball dominant guards doesn’t help Suggs either. Like yes the injuries obviously stop him from playing and finding that rhythm but also the team situation. Fultz is a pretty similar player, Cole is a score first point guard, RJ Hampton also there trying to grab minutes. Now they’ve drafted Paolo who’s a on the ball guy.
Really feel like a change of scenery could be good for him.
Maybe even something like
Jalen Suggs, Mo Bamba and a second round pick for James Wiseman and Moses Moody.
Magic get back a SG and a C both with high upside that’ll compete for minutes. If things work out Wiseman I’m particular would be a great long term fit with Paolo.
GSW get back a tall point guard to kinda serve as the back up to Curry and hopefully improve as a shooter. Try and emulate Shaun Livingston. Coming from college his biggest strengths were playing on transition, his defence and passing all things that fit well in the GSW system. Mo Bamba also could help be the centre they wanted Wiseman to be. He can stretch the floor, he’s really smart, he’s a elite shot blocker and he works really hard. Think he’d be a really good fit for them.
Brunson played well ….. n a lot. Kind of surprised at that. Knicks finally win a home gm. Yeeeeesssss
Always liked Isaac. He was starting to look good before he got hurt. Let’s see how he looks. He’s best as a 4 imo.
My take is that Isaac will earn more millions than games played so far 0 games in 2 years of what we’ll call 5yrs/77M if you include the pre-extension year.