The former interior prodigy cannot escape the fate of being waived

The Magic waived Jonathan Isaac, which came as no surprise, but hearing the news still stirs a lot of emotions.

This former interior talent, the sixth pick in 2017, seemed to spend the first half of his career fighting injuries. In the last two years, he has finally avoided major setbacks, but his body has declined considerably, and his abilities are no longer worth his current pay.

In 2024, the Magic gave Isaac a five-year, $84 million contract, which was quite generous given his injury history. However, strict protections were included: the $14.5 million salary for the 2026-27 season was only partially guaranteed at $8 million, while the following two seasons were fully unguaranteed.

Today was the deadline for the Magic to decide whether to guarantee Isaac's $14.5 million contract for next season. The Magic chose to absorb the $8 million dead money and waive him, freeing up $6.5 million in cap space. Remarkably, Isaac spent nine years with the Magic, from being drafted in 2017 to being cut in 2026. Those nine years feel utterly disjointed.

In his rookie season, Isaac's injury-prone nature became evident as he played only 27 games. The 2018-19 season was his healthiest, with 75 games played, 64 starts, as he gradually fulfilled his potential.

The 2019-20 season was both Isaac's breakout and his downfall. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. Before the injury, his on-court performance and stats were at a Defensive Player of the Year level, marking the peak of his career.

But in January 2020, Isaac suffered a severe left knee sprain that would have ended his season. However, the season was extended due to the pandemic and the Orlando bubble, allowing him to return to the court.

The truly devastating blow came later. After just two games in the bubble, Isaac suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, along with meniscus damage. This severe injury sidelined him for two and a half years, and it took 904 days before he stepped onto the court again. Along with Markelle Fultz, he became one of the Magic's unfortunate duo.

After returning in 2023, Isaac played only 11 games before a left adductor tear ended his season. In the 2023-24 season, he dealt with various hamstring issues and soreness in his left leg, which was now heavily scarred. However, over the last three seasons, he played 58, 71, and 52 games respectively, a decent attendance rate.

But his role with the Magic gradually diminished. Last season, he averaged just 10 minutes per game, posting 2.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks on 42.2% shooting, and he had largely lost his three-point shooting ability.

Such numbers clearly did not justify a $14.5 million contract, so the Magic waived him to free up cap space. Over nine years with Orlando, Isaac played only 328 regular-season games, with few standout performances, spending most of his time recovering from injuries.

Isaac originally played as a guard before a major growth spurt moved him to the frontcourt. He consequently combined guard skills with an interior player's frame, boasting impressive mobility and defensive coverage. In addition to solid defense, he showed proficiency in mid-range shooting and three-pointers, making him one of the top prospects from the 2017 class.

Even before entering the league, Isaac was projected to be a perennial All-Defensive Team member and a strong DPOY candidate. Despite concerns about his knees, he still went sixth overall in 2017.

Unfortunately, his knees eventually gave way. Looking back at his scouting report, scouts noted that both his upper and lower body lacked strength, and he had a slight frame. Though he could defend multiple positions, he struggled to hold his ground against post players. His rapid height increase and weight gain for the interior role, unsupported by his frame, indirectly led to subsequent injuries.

However, Isaac should have no shortage of suitors. Teams with similar player profiles often get another chance with a minimum salary deal. Moreover, since the Magic did not opt to stretch the remaining $8 million of his contract, Isaac could still re-sign with Orlando on a new deal.

You could say fate was unfair to Isaac—he had elite talent but never healthy legs. Yet you could also say fate treated him kindly—despite constant injuries, he still earned considerable money from the Magic.

Compared to the 904 days away from the court, being waived is nothing for Isaac. He hasn't become better than before; injuries have taken too much from him. But his indomitable spirit makes him stronger than ever.