One NBA writer is proposing that the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs make a trade centered around Jonathan Isaac and Doug McDermott.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed that the Magic trade Isaac to the Spurs for McDermott and a 2024 second-round pick.
“Isaac is one of four players to average at least 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals per 36 minutes (across at least 100 games) since 2017-18,” Hughes wrote. “No other player in that group made more than three triples across the multi-season sample. Isaac hit 140, which illustrates his uncommon package of two-way skills. The Spurs have at least a couple of years’ worth of grace period before people start expecting them to win loads of games with Victor Wembanyama, and Isaac is exactly the type of high-risk, high-reward play they should be taking.
“Meanwhile, the Magic get a quality shooter and cutter who actually plays games."
Isaac has only played in 11 games over the last three seasons due to injuries. The Florida State product has career averages of 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.4 blocks in 147 games with the Magic. A change of scenery could do wonders for Issac, who is a career 33.3% shooter from deep.
Meanwhile, McDermott is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He appeared in 64 games for the Spurs last season and averaged 10.2 points while shooting 45.7% overall and 41.3% from 3. The 31-year-old is a career 41.0% from beyond the arc.
Both the Spurs and Magic missed the 2023 playoffs. San Antonio could use Isaac’s rebounding and blocking skills, while Orlando’s offense would become more deadly with McDermott’s ability to hit 3-pointers at a high clip.
It will be interesting to see where Issac and McDermott are playing next season.
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