Jonathan Isaac's defense dictates more playing time

If Moritz Wagner or Jalen Suggs are not themselves when they return, it’s only more reason to look Isaac’s way. Furthermore, he’s quicker than someone that size should be, and opponents have trouble gauging his length. He guards well in the back line, especially against bigger guys who like to handle, and he is a threat as a weak-side shot blocker. In 2024-25, only nine players who logged more than 60 games had a higher block percentage than Isaac.

Isaac’s lack of outside shooting will make defenders sag off and complicate things for his teammates on offense, but there is a counter for everything that happens on the court. If opponents want to muck things up by giving him space, Isaac can be a weapon in split action as the perimeter screener after the ball comes back outside from the post.  Sagging off would doom his defender because they would have more ground to cover and then would have to get around his body.  There’s also probably more avenues for him to score as a cutter by slicing into the space for a quick catch-and-score.

Isaac cannot be judged fairly by looking at the stat sheet. He is the perfect example of value seen only through the eye test, and he aces that every time he gets into a defensive stance. It behooves the Magic to ensure he gets more time against the league’s best scorers.