Jonathan Isaac’s time in Orlando is over. The Magic waived the 6-foot-9 forward on June 27, one day before his $14.5 million salary for 2026-27 would have become fully guaranteed. By cutting Isaac before Sunday’s deadline, Orlando saved roughly $6.5 million – a decision that reflects how the league has come to view a player whose physical fragility never let his talent fully surface.
Nine years, one city, too many surgeries
Isaac came to Orlando as the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, out of Florida State. His class has aged remarkably well: Lonzo Ball at No. 2, Jayson Tatum at No. 3, De’Aaron Fox at No. 5, Donovan Mitchell at No. 13, Bam Adebayo at No. 14, OG Anunoby at No. 23. Nearly all became All-Stars. Isaac’s trajectory ran into a wall almost immediately.
He appeared in 70 or more games in just two of his nine professional seasons – 2018-19 and 2024-25. The years between were absorbed by ACL tears, knee surgeries, and extended absences. When healthy, he offered genuine defensive versatility: a forward who could hold guards on the perimeter, anchor the paint, and shoot threes at a serviceable clip. The windows were just never wide enough or long enough for the package to hold together.
The Magic stuck with him through multiple rehab cycles, an unusual show of loyalty that earned Isaac a full nine-year run with one franchise. According to ESPN, Orlando’s decision came down to the guarantee deadline: keep him and absorb $14.5 million, or move on and bank $6.5 million in offseason flexibility. They moved on.
What comes next for Isaac
At 28, Isaac enters the market for the first time since the Magic selected him nine years ago. A minimum contract is the realistic floor. His ability to guard multiple positions and challenge shots at the rim still has value off an NBA bench, even if his career scoring average never climbed above 9.5 points per game – well below what scouts projected when he went sixth overall.
Orlando pivots toward a young core anchored by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. That $6.5 million in savings gives the franchise real room to maneuver as the June 30 free agency period opens. According to Yahoo Sports, no team had shown immediate interest before the waiver cleared, but that is expected to change. Nine years, one city, countless comebacks – and now an open question about whether there is a second act.
