NBA Rumors: Magic 'Necessitating Trade' for Jonathan Isaac?

Jonathan Isaac has been a name smothered in trade rumors this offseason. Could the Orlando Magic deal him away?

Jeremy Brener | Jun 27, 2023

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic has very little space currently on its roster, which means a trade or two could be happening soon with free agency just days away.

Among those who could be dealt is forward Jonathan Isaac, who has sat on the sidelines more often than he has seen the court in his six-year career.

Bleacher Report believes the Magic will seek out a deal for Isaac this offseason.

"Isaac is only 25, but all those absences have led to more than enough questions about his long-term health to necessitate a trade," Bleacher Report writes.

Isaac is fighting for minutes at the power forward position in Orlando and No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero is blocking his way towards the starting lineup. However, the Magic isn't looking to trade Isaac anytime soon.

"I fully anticipate Jonathan to roll with us and be an important guy for us next year," Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said.

Isaac may not be a starter, but Orlando has invested significant time and money towards him despite his setbacks, all of which are hopefully behind him. Should Isaac showcase a similar performance to what he brought in his brief appearances this season, he will be a key contributor for the Magic this upcoming season.

The Magic could have parted ways with Isaac awhile ago, but the team is hoping that its patience will pay off. Orlando signed Isaac to a four-year, $69.9 million extension in Dec. 2020, four months after tearing his ACL. Now, the Magic is approaching the back-end of that deal, but because he didn't play in 2020-21 or 2021-22, this year's contract holds a partial guarantee, while next year's doesn't have any.

With no guarantees for the 2024-25 season, Isaac is playing for his job this upcoming season. If it works out, the Magic will reap the benefits of its patience. If not, Orlando will soon find a replacement for his spot on the roster.

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Published Jun 27, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.