Isaac signs new contract with Orlando.
The Orlando Magic and Jonathan Isaac have agreed to a five-year contract extension, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The deal is worth $84 million over five years. Isaac’s contract begins with the 2024-2025 season and runs through the 2028-2029 season.
Isaac is known for his all-time glass body. He was selected by Orlando with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Isaac has been recognized as a big defender since his college days. Although he”s a long forward (210 centimeters), 파워볼실시간 he”s very quick and has great height. This makes him a versatile defender who can defend the 1 through 5 positions.
Despite his great defense, his offense leaves a lot to be desired. His play with the ball is awkward and his three-point shot is inaccurate. Nevertheless, he has the talent to average double-digit points. In fact, in the 2019-2020 season, he averaged 11.9 points per game, which isn’t bad.
Isaac is a player who helps his team every time he is on the court. His defensive abilities are tremendous. His presence makes his teammates’ defense easier. He’s also a dedicated defender for the other team’s ace. When healthy, Isaac is the number one candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
The problem is that Isaac’s health is a constant in his favor. Since Isaac’s NBA debut in the 2017-2018 season, 2018-2029 is the only season he’s played more than 70 games. The rest of his seasons have all been less than 60 games, with the exception of 2023-2024, where he played 34 games.
He even missed the entire 2020-2022 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. His return to the court in 2022-2023 was also marred by injuries that limited him to 11 games.
Isaac”s 2023-2024 season wasn”t a bad one, so why did Orlando pay him so much? He averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 58 games in 2023-2024, but his defense was nothing to write home about.
One of the most in-demand positions in the NBA these days is long forwards. Especially forwards who can defend, their value is increasing by the day. Isaac’s $84 million is certainly a lot of money, but it’s not that expensive considering the NBA’s salary cap, which will continue to grow in the coming years.
Orlando has a solid one-two punch of forwards in Paolo Banquero and Franz Wagner. Both players are capable of averaging over 20 points per game. Isaac can act as their bodyguard and take care of the dirty work and defense. It’s a gamble worth taking for Orlando.
Can Isaac prove to be healthy and repay Orlando’s faith in him?