Magic To Re-Sign Jonathan Isaac

The 28-year-old forward/center had an $8MM guarantee on his $14.5MM salary for 2026/27 when he was waived on Saturday. He also had two non-guaranteed years left on that contract. Isaac’s new deal is likely for the veteran’s minimum, considering Orlando’s tax and apron constraints.

The decision to bring back Isaac eliminates the option for the Magic to stretch his former contract over several seasons. That move would have prevented him from returning to Orlando’s roster until the entirety of the deal had elapsed in the summer of 2029.

The money saved by waiving Isaac enabled the Magic to sign free agent center Nikola Vucevic and re-sign free agent guard Jevon Carter while staying under the second apron, notes Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link).

Isaac has been a mainstay in Orlando since being selected with the sixth pick in the 2017 draft. He missed two-and-a-half seasons early in his career due to knee issues, including a left ACL tear, but was able to return at full strength in 2023/24. Through renegotiation and extension, he received a five-year, $84MM deal that offseason.

His role was reduced this season, but he remains a very effect defender in short spurts. He appeared in 52 games, averaging 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10 minutes per night. He suffered a left knee sprain in mid-March that forced him to miss the final 17 games of the season, as well as Orlando’s entire playoff series against Detroit.