The unrealized ceiling of Jonathan Isaac will haunt the Orlando Magic forever.
6'10, hyper-mobile, unreal length and athleticism to pair with stellar defensive instincts, and a serviceable outside shot - that's a perennial All-Defense 1st team player worth 5+ first round picks (think bigger, better Mikal Bridges).
Isaac was waived by the Orlando Magic earlier this week - is it worth it for the Hawks to take a shot in the dark to acquire the injury-riddled defensive nightmare?
Health is wealth in the NBA, unfortunately for Jonathan Isaac
Jonathan Isaac's promising career was capsized by his inability to stay healthy.
After a ludicrous 34-game stretch in the 2019-2020 season where Jonathan Isaac posted 11 PPG, 7 RPG, and a sensational 3.9 stocks per game with a 34% 3-ball to boot, he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus shortly after the NBA bubble commenced.
The injury kept Isaac on the bench for two entire seasons, seeing the Minister of Defense finally return to the hardwood for a meager 11 games in the 2022-2023 season. Ever since the injury, Isaac has failed to appear at any level of consistency,
In the event the Hawks decide to gamble on Isaac, however, the benefits happen to circumstantially extend beyond what he brings to the hardwood.
Could Isaac mentor the eerily similar Mo Gueye?
The other argument for adding Isaac at bottom dollar would be his potential ability to mentor the younger, healthier Mouhamed Gueye.
Gueye's game - at its best - has reminded Hawks fans of a young, healthy version of Jonathan Isaac. His length, mobility, and infectious energy on the defensive end of the floor are just too dissimilar to every other defender in modern history.
Gueye, whose team option was recently picked up, has cracked the fringes of Atlanta's rotation on occasion during the dawning years of his career, but has been limited by a number of variables - chiefly, his inability to drain the triple, and his (at times) eyesore of a tendency to commit preventable turnovers.
Isaac was able to dispel similar concerns during his younger years. While the raw defensive instincts and frame have always been present for both Isaac and Gueye, the idea that Isaac could serve as a foundation for Gueye to model his game off of (much more closely as a teammate) isn't ridiculous at all.
Should Atlanta take a swing at Isaac - perhaps, a 2-year, $6M type of deal - the rewards are just waiting to be reaped, if health permits.
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