NBA
#6 – Jonathan Isaac – Orlando Magic
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
With the sixth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic have selected Jonathan Isaac from Florida State.
Isaac has been touted as a player that has perhaps the highest upside of anyone in this draft class. In just one season in college, Isaac averaged 12 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.2 assists per game. In one game during the NCAA Tournament (played in Orlando), Isaac recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals against Florida Gulf Coast.
Measuring in at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Isaac has the potential to be a nightmare on the defensive end. He has the quickness and versatility that will allow him to guard positions 1-4 and he projects to play well in a pick-and-roll defense given his ability to switch everything. He figures to come in and immediately become one the Magic’s top defenders.
Isaac will be a welcomed addition to a roster that doesn’t feature too many versatile players on the court. He can play as the big man in a small-ball lineup or can run in a big lineup with Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo. While he wasn’t the strongest three-point shooter in college (34.8 percent), he’ll still be able to keep defenses honest and can help stretch the floor.
The Magic selected Isaac with the first of their four total draft picks. They also hold selections 25, 33 and 35. It remains to be seen which players the team will be targeting with the three remaining picks, but they figure to have a great chance to add more depth given how deep this draft is said to be.
New Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said the team will be looking to draft the best available player and they appear to have done that with Isaac.
