Orlando, FL – As the 2021-22 NBA regular season comes to an end, we asked our writers three simple questions for each Orlando Magic player: What went well this season? What are the areas of improvement this offseason and what does the future hold?
Let’s get started right away!
THE STARTERS:
Wendell Carter Jr..
The key to success this season for Wendell Carter Jr was going to be health. If he was able to remain healthy the expectation was for him to have a great season. Wendell Carter spent most of his summer working on his game, especially his three point shot and it showed early in the season. Wendell ended up playing 62 games this season and averaged a career high 15 points per game, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He also attempted a career high 3.5 three point shots per game while shooting 32.7% from behind the arc. He also ended the season with 33 double-doubles, an impressive feat for a guy who many considered to be just a young piece in the Nikola Vucevic trade last season. Wendell became the anchor for the Magic and as the season progressed he became better and better. There is no question that he has become a key member of the organization and a building block as the rebuild continues.
Wendell had a fantastic season all-around, but there are some areas of improvement as he heads into the offseason. He needs to continue to work on his outside shot this summer and to continue to get stronger. With the possible return of Jonathan Isaac next season and possibly drafting a power-forward in the NBA Draft, Wendell may have to move on to play the center position next season. If that is the case, he will need to get stronger. Conditioning will also be a key for him this offseason. The Magic now know what a great player he can be for them and now the pressure will be on for him to produce at a high level next season. He will need to come in prepared to be one of the key members of this team from day one.
Mo Bamba
Man, it has definitely been a roller coaster of emotions this season in regards to Mo Bamba, his role on the team and most importantly his future. When he was engaged he provided the Magic with spacing that opened the floor for the team and more importantly opened the block to allow Wendell Carter Jr. to put in work. His three point shooting and shot blocking are definitely his best assets and provide a unique skill set very coveted especially in todays game.
Probably the most difficult player on the team to evaluative going into next season. If he remains with the team, the main thing he needs to improve is just his motor. It needs to start with conditioning in order to give him confidence to play long stretches while giving it his all energy wise. His future is all contingent on whether he returns to the team or not. He would be a great piece to keep for the core going forward but I believe his price tag is going to be the ultimate factor into wether he returns or not.
Franz Wagner
Easily the most underrated rookie in the 2021 draft class, Franz surpassed the expectations from everyone this season averaging 15.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while only missing three total games. He lead the entire class in total points scored, scoring 1,197 total points, ahead of second place Jalen Green by 40 points. There were many stretches during games this season where he was the best player on the court and while he did not get the national media attention he deserved, it was undeniable to anyone watching the games just how skilled he was at such a young age.
One area of improvement he needs to focus on going into next season is going to be his ball handling. While he was not a bad ball handler, especially considering his size, he seems to be most effective with the ball in his hands where he can help facilitate the offense. With that being said, he played loose with his dribble at times and would benefit from tightening it up some more. It would make him even more of a matchup nightmare offensively.
He has major Hedo Turkoglu vibe which is a huge plus not only for the team itself but also the fans. Franz can do everything on the floor offensively and can seemingly guard 1-5 most nights. At 6’10 and only 20 years old, there is still potential for him to grow which is scary considering how comfortable he looks already.
Franz is a cornerstone piece for the Magic without a doubt.
Jalen Suggs
Jalen Suggs came into this season with a lot of expectations. As a top-five pick in last year’s NBA Draft, fresh off one of the most dominant runs in college basketball history, analysts and fans alike expected Suggs to quickly establish himself as the leader of an Orlando Magic team that desperately needed an identity. He may not have lived up to the hype we gave him, but he showed flashes of excellent defense and a desire to win at all costs. Suggs put his body on the line during every possession, more so than most of his teammates. He stuck to everyone he guarded like glue. He took charges better than most guards in the league. He drove the lane like a freight train, leaving opposing bigs wondering how they let a 6’4” guard breeze through them. He played the game with a passion and intensity that this team hasn’t seen in a while. But that’s not the only bright spot we saw from Suggs. One of his best skills coming into the league was his playmaking ability, especially in transition. We saw a little bit of that during his rookie season, and he’s only going to get better as he grows more comfortable initiating an NBA offense. Suggs showed us that there’s a lot to like with his game, in just his first season as a pro.
Despite how much hustle Suggs showed night in and night out, Suggs struggled a lot with his shooting, much more than we initially thought he would. His shot just didn’t seem to fall whatsoever, shooting an abysmal 36% from the field and 21% from behind the arc, per Basketball Reference. These poor numbers can be mostly explained via a poor shot selection, but that’s honestly not something to worry about with Suggs. He’s only a rookie, and both of those numbers will skyrocket up as he spends more time on the court. But even that was a concern. Suggs missed a total of 34 games due to various injuries to his thumb and ankle, injuries he suffered because of the aggressive way he plays.
It’s not far-fetched to suggest that Suggs will have difficulty staying healthy for his career due simply to the nature of his play style. But it’s not a guarantee. If he stays relatively healthy throughout his career, Suggs could become a franchise cornerstone, especially if he improves his shooting. He has shown that he is already a capable defender and playmaker at such a young age, and will only improve at both with more experience. He will have to outperform Markelle Fultz or Cole Anthony in order to secure one of the starting guard spots, neither of which is an easy feat to accomplish, but based on what we’ve seen from him in his rookie year, as well as what we know he is capable of doing from his time in college, Suggs is on the right track to becoming one of Orlando’s most important players.
Cole Anthony
It still feels like yesterday when Cole Anthony torched the Minnesota Timberwolves for thirty-one points on the first day of November, and followed it up with 33 against the Utah Jazz a few days later. Fans were quick to label him a future star, the league’s Most Improved Player, and the man that would make opposing teams fear the Orlando Magic in the near future. But as the season rolled on, Anthony’s production began to dip. He never achieved the excellent performances from November that made him a household name in Orlando. Well, he did put up high scoring numbers in various games, but never for a stretch of games. Inconsistency was his biggest issue throughout this past season. On some days, he would put up 26 points on 43% shooting, such as the January 5th loss to Philadelphia, but on others he would only manage to score 4 on just 22% like he did in Orlando’s January 21st loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even some of his high-scoring games would come with low shooting percentages, because of how high of a volume shooter he was some nights. Watching Cole Anthony play basketball this season was like watching a game of Russian roulette: he would put up decent to great numbers during most of the games he played, but there was a substantial chance that a lackluster performance from him would cost the Magic a game. You never knew which of these two options happen on a given night until the final buzzer sounded.
But Cole Anthony could do more than just score the ball. His unworldly athleticism made him an excellent rebounder, grabbing 5.4 boards per game on route to becoming the league’s 8th-best rebounding guard this past season. He showed flashes of excellent playmaking and elite court vision, notching four games with 11 assists, including one last month, an amazing stat for a score-first guard. He was good enough this season to represent Orlando during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend as a Rising Star, sharing the court with teammate Jalen Suggs. The future is bright for Cole Anthony, but his role on the team is uncertain. He’s an amazing talent and should play a major part on this team going forward, but is he consistent enough to start? As it stands right now, we expect Coach Mosley to start Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs at each of the two guard spots next season, leaving Anthony to provide the bench with much-needed scoring at a moment’s notice. But anything can change, and it’s possible that within a few years, Cole Anthony will blossom into the all-star we thought he would be in November.
THE BENCH:
Markelle Fultz
Recovering from a torn ACL from early 2021, there was plenty of worry that Markelle may not even see the floor during the course of the 2021-2022 season. Considering the way the training staff and front office was handling the Jonathan Isaac situation, these worries by Magic fans were validated. Luckily, it was announced that Markelle would return for a regular season exhibition on February 28th against the Indiana Pacers at home, which led to a win. It truly is difficult to summarize just how impactful Fultz has been since his return, so let me just say it in a way Magic fans will understand: Markelle. Fultz.
The outstanding playmaking and elite mid-range shot making has left us in awe, as even the most diehard of Fultz fans did not expect him to come off a year long recovery with this much pure talent. Fultz has been a much needed breath of fresh air, as it seems every game he produces and contributes at the most elite of levels, in only an average of 20 minutes per game. As mentioned earlier, we’ve yet to see this version of Markelle’s jump shot since his days at Washington. Shooting 46% from the traditional mid-range, Fultz has separated himself as one of the most elite off-the-dribble shot-makers this league has to offer. So much has gone wrong to start Fultz’ career (a lot of it being out of his control), but this season has been one to appreciate for Markelle. It felt like every possible thing that could’ve gone right, went right during his return. Under a restriction of 20.0 minutes per game, his average numbers of 11 points per game and 5.5 assists per game are impressive, yet nowhere near telling of how great he’s been playing. During the final game of the season, Markelle posted a career-high in assists (15), while orchestrating the Magic to tie their franchise record for most made threes in a game (23) during their win against Miami.
As for every player, there will always be something for Markelle to improve on. For Markelle, this most definitely would be an increase in range. In today’s NBA, it is common knowledge that a star guard almost always requires a respectable three-point shot in order to truly dominate from a scoring standpoint. With Markelle’s unique situation regarding his jump-shot, it is going to be a process for him to develop a reliable three-point shot, as he shoots a rough 26% from three for his career. Fans are hoping that with a fully healthy season, Fultz has all the right tools to fast track this development of his game. One can dream of how deadly Markelle Fultz with a league average three-pointer would be.
It’s safe to say a healthy Markelle Fultz without a minutes restriction is a solidified starter on this Magic team, as his recent play has seemingly cemented himself as our point guard of the future. There’s really no telling how high Markelle can fly, but Magic fans are seemingly the only ones put on notice of his upcoming stardom.
Terrence Ross
We expected the sole remaining Magic member from the Rob Hennigan era to be dealt at some point during February’s trade deadline. He is a winning player on a losing team, a guy who should be competing for a title as he gradually exits his prime. But the deadline passed…and Terrence Ross remained in Orlando. The Magic’s longest-tenured player would stay put for at least another half-season. And it’s very good that he did. The Human Torch lit up multiple fourth quarters this past season, as he has been prone to do since first stepping foot in Central Florida.
A lot of those fourth-quarter contributions seemed to be forced, however. Ross was usually put into the game to do one thing: score. But that was easier said than done, however, as Ross finished this season averaging less than 40% from the field and 29% from three. These numbers can be largely attributed to one thing: for one of the most experienced players on the Magic’s roster, he had the worst shot selection of anyone else on it. It was not uncommon to see Ross shoot heavily-contested shots at any given possession, missing most of them. But when he was on fire, he was on fire.
No amount of defense would be enough to contest Terrence Ross. But even then, that wasn’t even Ross’s most important role on the team; it was to mentor the young players. Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs are the future of the Orlando Magic. They have all the talent in the world, but not enough experience to put that talent to full use. Ross’s presence and guidance allows these young players to learn from a player with ten seasons and five playoff appearances under his belt. One day these young players could achieve similar success with the Magic. But until they get there, they will have the tutelage of proven winners like Ross to learn from and eventually emulate.
Gary Harris
When the Magic acquired Gary Harris last season at the trade deadline in the Aaron Gordon trade most fans saw it as a salary filler who was added to the trade to make the numbers work. We did not see much from him last season due to the Magic embracing losing as the season came to an end, but this season was different. Harris started the season injured and when he returned he struggled to find his shot and simply did not look comfortable on the court. After a few weeks, he found his rhythm and became a rotation player at first and even got to start while Jalen Suggs was out dealing with an injury. Harris ended up playing 61 games this season and ended up averaging 11.1 points per game, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 38.4% from behind the arc.
This was the best season for Harris since the 2018-19 season. This was also the most games played for him in a season since the 2017-18 season. Harris proved to be a great veteran presence in the locker room and someone that can contribute to a winning team. The question heading into the offseason is will he return to the Magic? The Magic decided not to trade him at the trade deadline which led many to wonder if this means that he will be returning on a team friendly deal to continue serving as a leader in the Magic extremely young locker room. If that is the case, the majority of Magic fans seems to be OK with that idea as he proved to be a solid contributor but most importantly a three-point shooting threat when he was on the court.
Heading into the summer Harris will need to focus on his conditioning and working on his body to remain healthy throughout next season. When Harris is healthy, he has proven to be a solid contributor and a player that can be a solid “3 and D” veteran for the Magic or for any team in the NBA. Harris will also need to work on his playmaking skills this summer as this is a clear area of improvement for him. As a guard who often finds himself with the ball in his hands he should average more than 1.8 assists per game, especially on a young team like the Magic who will rely on his veteran presence on the court to create easy looks for them. Whether Harris remains with the Magic or not this offseason remains to be seen, but if he does end up staying, he will easily be one of the easiest guys to root for.
Chuma Okeke
Chuma Okeke entered the season with high expectations from Magic fans. He had great moments last season, especially after the trade deadline, but injuries early in the season prevented him from playing at a high level early on. Okeke missed training camp and the first few weeks of the season and that set him back tremendously. When he returned to the court it was clear that his conditioning was not where it needed to be. He struggled to hit open threes, seemed slow on the defensive end and overall looked nothing like the Okeke that Magic fans were so ready to see take a leap forward this season. It all changed in the second half of the season as Okeke returned to form and his shots started to fall once again. As usual, he was a pest on the defensive end, getting multiple deflections and steals per game and he found his groove as the season went on.
He ended up playing in 70 games this season and averaged 8.6 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists, but only shot 37.6% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range. Okeke bounced back really well after his early season struggles and there were moments were we could all see why the Magic surprised everyone and drafted him so early in the 2019 NBA Draft.
This offseason will be a big one for Okeke. He is now familiar with the NBA game, his knee injury is a thing of the past and he should now be ready to take a significant leap next season. A focus area for Okeke will be conditioning and working on his lateral movement. With the return of Isaac and the possible drafting of a forward in the 2022 NBA Draft, Okeke will need to be able to slide down to the small forward position from time to time, if not permanently, in order to get significant minutes next season. He will need to continue to work on his shot, finishing inside and as previously mentioned, his lateral quickness. Next year should be a big year for him.
RJ Hampton
It’s safe to say R.J. Hampton has found himself a home in Orlando, as he’s become immersed in Orlando’s culture of camaraderie and brotherhood instilled by Jamahl Mosley. After being traded a total of three times in his young career, the former 24th overall pick landed in Orlando amidst the teardown of the Vucevic, Gordon and Fournier era.
Since then, it’s been ups and downs for Hampton, however there have certainly been flashes of him finding a profound role. It seems R.J.’s level of play is very circumstantial, night in and night out you never know what you’re gonna get. If you allow him to function off the ball, he utilizes his agility and quick release to become a sweet catch and shoot three-point shooter. On the other end of the floor, his quick feet allow for him to be an above-average perimeter defender. His athleticism is probably top-tier on this team, as he can jump and slam with the likes of Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony. Ideally, you’d want him playing the role of a slashing 3&D wing. What I’m about to get into is exactly why this concept is complicated.
As mentioned in the Moe Wagner player review, the bench players’ weaknesses jump off the papers. For R.J., this is no different. Although I mentioned a role that should be ideal for R.J., it certainly isn’t that simple. A set role for any NBA player is determined by the player’s ability, coaching staff, and everything that goes on behind-the-scenes of an NBA team. Especially during times where most of our guards were injured, we had to see some rough stretches out of R.J. Specifically, the work in progress that seems to be very dysfunctional is the concept of Point R.J.
Previously, I spoke on Hampton’s solid ability to function off-the-ball thanks to his agility and steadily improving three-point shot. Now, let’s discuss the night-and-day difference between off-ball R.J. and on-ball R.J. Can R.J. eventually turn out to be a good NBA point guard? Certainly. Does he possess the tools now? Not one bit. Watching R.J. Hampton run the point is not a pleasant experience, to put it nicely. He’s simply not a gifted shot creator, has questionable passing instincts such as a predictable jump pass, and plays with a heavy case of tunnel vision, Occasionally he’ll make a few nice outlet passes to the corner for a three ball, but even running a simple pick and roll is an visible struggle for him. These kinds of struggles are what put him comfortably under the other three young Magic guards when it comes to evaluating their playmaking and comfort level with the ball in their hands. Heading into next season, it would be great to see R.J. improve somewhat on these skills, however here’s to hoping he finds a more solidified role as a catch-and-shooter off the bench.
It’s certainly realistic to assume R.J. will find himself a spot in the rotation next year, as he’s proven in games such as the Miami finale that he will find a way to contribute, someway and somehow. Assuming our guards stay healthy, the on-ball reps of Fultz, Suggs, and Anthony will likely call for Hampton to contribute off the ball and truthfully, that could possibly be the best thing that happens for Hampton.
Moe Wagner
After signing with Orlando as a free agent nearing the end of the 2020-2021 season, Wagner could not be more excited to sign another contract with Orlando the following summer, especially after Orlando drafted his younger brother Franz. It definitely has been a pleasant surprise to know the Magic are beginning to hit their stride when it comes to discovering available talent in the NBA world (see Devin Cannady). Moe has played a comfortable bench role, often as a slightly undersized, athletic big who hustles on both ends of the floor and stretches the floor with his three-point shooting. What’s been extremely exciting about the Moe Wagner experience is how promising he’s looked as a potential rotational man heading into next season. When Moe Wagner has a big night, you’ll know about it. He plays with a certain tenacity that is unteachable– diving for loose balls, getting under the opponents’ skin, and bringing the house down with thunderous jams. One specific performance from Wagner that put people on notice was at Charlotte, during a win against the Hornets where Wagner scored 26 points on 11/17 shooting.
During the trials and tribulations of this rocky season, it’s been a simple task to point out the weaknesses of our bench players. Our second unit is often the unit that struggles the most, so naturally these things pop on the screen when watching games. When it comes to Moe Wagner, there are two glaring objectives: defense and rebounding. It’s always great to have a big man that can drive, shoot, and play a solid PnR, don’t get me wrong. However, on the other side of the floor, things get shaky. Wagner simply does not possess the ability to stay in front of defenders on the perimeter, and lacks the size to be a true defensive threat in the paint. The lack of size also can be attributed to the rebounding ability– at 6’11”, Wagner only averages 3.7 rebounds in 15 minutes per game.
It’s clear in Wagner’s game to point out what needs some fixing up during this offseason, however I do fear that these holes in his game will prevent him from receiving decent minutes next season when considering Isaac’s return. In an ideal role, I believe Wagner can find himself playing backup power forward minutes in instances of injury replacement or late game blowouts. Unfortunately, I simply cannot see a situation where, if the Magic pursue a winning season, Wagner is a rotational player. But alas, a decision of that caliber is in the hands of Coach Mosley.
Robin Lopez
When Robin Lopez was signed in the off-season It was expected he would bring a strong veteran presence that would be a huge benefit for the Magic young team. He has done exactly that and more.He was engaged with fans and just made the vibe around the team more fun. Whether he plays big minutes or not is not and issue for him which is great for chemistry and allowing the young guns to play more freely without worrying about someone taking their spot.
As far as his biggest area of improvement, there is not much he needs to do other than continue to bring that family like energy around the team. Veterans like him are a vital part to building a teams culture and he has done a great job of doing so.
I believe he needs to stick around longer than the length of his contract.
THE BOTTOM OF THE ROSTER:
Ignas Brazdeikis
The Lakeland Magic star was initially signed last season when the Magic were in need of roster fillers, and with this season’s continued injury woes, Brazdeikis has found himself under yet another two-way contract. The Canadian out of the University of Michigan is not exactly a *fan favorite*, as he’s garnered a reputation for being one of those “if you see him checking in, it’s probably bad” players. Despite all the flack he takes, Brazdeikis has actually been somewhat of a contributor in the few opportunities he receives in Orlando. He’s not the most mobile or athletic forward, however he finds ways to be aggressive and finish at the rim. Brazdeikis finds himself camped out in the corner and ready to come off screens, while also being a somewhat reliable three-point shooter. Although he’s still not yet to crack a real rotation, Brazdeikis’ contributions on the scoring end during times of injury deficit aren’t gonna go unnoticed.
When pointing out the weaknesses of Ignas, it’s important to keep this in mind: guys that play on two-way contracts make it pretty difficult to pinpoint their actual basketball weaknesses. They’re almost always in the G-League, playing at a level lower than their NBA peers, so naturally (unless they receive heavy minutes) they’re never truly going to adjust to the highest level. So in this case, Ignas’ main areas of improvement span from everything under the process of gaining an NBA-level skill set. His first step is nowhere near as quick as the average NBA forward, which often leads to Ignas looking lost and completely out of place on the court. Awareness should be a big area of focus should Ignas want to secure a spot on an NBA roster heading into the season.
Considering the fact that the Magic will look like a much better team next year by potentially adding two elite forward’s (Isaac’s return and a 2022 top draft pick) to the roster, it’s very likely Ignas sees little to no minutes for Orlando next year–that is, if his two-way spot is renewed. We’ve already seen former G-League Finals MVP, Devin Cannady, signed to a multi-year, standard deal with Orlando, and seeing as Ignas has spent more time with the Magic than Cannady, I’d say it’s fairly probable we don’t see Ignas at all next year. Along with the *unlikely* chance that the front office utilizes their two second round picks this year, I find it hard to believe Ignas has himself a spot on this roster, let alone receiving minutes.
DEVIN CANNADY
On April 27, 2021, Devin Cannady fractured his right ankle after attempting to stop a drive. It was during a season where countless Magic injuries had already occurred, including Markelle Fultz’s infamous ACL tear, but this one felt the most unfair. As an undrafted guard out of Princeton, Cannady gave his body and soul to the Orlando Magic just for a chance to make the bottom of the roster. And when he did, he was almost immediately injured. His future with the Magic had been in jeopardy. Most people would have given up at that point, but not Cannady. He loved basketball too much.
He had led the Lakeland Magic to its first-ever G-League Championship, taking home Finals MVP honors. This past month, he signed a ten-day contract with the Orlando Magic, returning to the roster for the first time since his gruesome injury. And just recently, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Magic agreed to a multiyear deal with Cannady, who earned his roster spot almost a year after it was ripped away from him.
Perseverance. That’s Devin Cannady’s strongest trait as a member of the Orlando Magic. His recovery from injury showed that he had zero quit in him, no matter the odds. That work ethic he has could potentially earn him a bigger role on the team going forward. That possibility is not a far-fetched one; he loves the city of Orlando and wants to contribute in anyway he can.
As of now, that looks to be a lights-out shooter off the bench, as he’s averaged 40% from deep during his five games in pinstripes to go along with his ten points per game. It’s difficult to pinpoint what Cannady needs to work on in only five games, but his efficiency from the field (34%) could be a little bit better based on what we’ve seen from him. But we believe that he’ll give everything he has this summer in order to improve his game and become a much bigger presence on this team. Cannady has already earned his roster spot in a way that no other player on this team has, but he knows that his journey to fulfilling his dream and contributing to the Orlando Magic is nowhere near finished.
Admiral Schofield
We truly did not expect to see as much of Schofield this season as we ended up seeing. Schofield played a total of 38 games with the Magic this season and ended the season averaging 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists and shot 41.9% from the field and 32.9% from three point range. In limited minutes, he did OK. He proved to be a solid body that is capable of handling himself against some of the strong players in the NBA. Schofield also showed us that he plays with energy and is someone who will not back down from others. He ended up getting ejected late in the season in the game against the Charlotte Hornets, which clearly proves our point.
There’s no guarantee that we will see Schofield return to the Magic next season, but if he is, it would not be the worst thing in the world. He can easily be a solid two-way player as he is only 25 years old and should get better with more work with the coaching staff in Lakeland and in Orlando. I would not be surprised if we see him in Las Vegas in July representing the Magic.
Schofield will need to work on his outside shot and on his one on one defense this summer. If he wants to make it in the NBA he will need to find a skill that he can be really good at and that should be his defense and his outside shot, which will allow him to become a solid “3 and D” player, which most NBA teams crave in today’s NBA.
THE INJURED PLAYERS
Bol Bol
Bol Bol only played in14 games this season before being ruled out with a foot injury. He got traded to Orlando at the 2022 NBA trade deadline for a second round pick and it remains to be seen just how he will fit in with this team going forward.
He’s shown flashes of versatility as a big man, being able to do a little bit of everything on the court. His issue has been health and opportunity since being drafted in 2019, so it remains to be seen just how he will fit in with this team going forward. It is a low risk high reward proposition for the Magic.
Let’s see how it plays out.
Jonathan Isaac
Well, well, well… what can we say about Jonathan Isaac? We usually start with the positives of the 2021-22 season in our player reviews, but there was truly nothing positive about the Jonathan Isaac situation this past season.
Let me start by saying that it is not his fault. The front office did a horrible job communicating with the media and the fans, which led to a whole lot of wondering about his return. As we all now know, Isaac would go on to miss the entire season despite him saying that he was ready to return early in the season and that the latest he could see himself back on the court would be Christmas Day. Well, that day passed and Markelle Fultz came back and ultimately the season ended and Isaac never returned. Not only that, but what we had all feared all along, a possible setback, ended up becoming a reality the same day the team announced he would not be playing this season. You cannot make this up.
We are all hoping that Isaac is able to return by training camp, he is able to regain his form and comeback better than ever. It is unfortunate because those are the same hopes we had heading into the 2021-22 season, but hey… let’s remain positive and hope that come October 2022 Isaac will be unleashed and able to participate fully in training camp and be ready to go for opening night. We will need to tamper our expectations and realize that he will need time to get used to playing at the pace of an NBA game and that he will probably be on a minutes restriction, but as we saw with Fultz this season, 20 minutes a night from such a talented player can lead to a significant impact on the court and in the outcome of the game.
It will be a long offseason, Magic fans, but there is a lot to look forward to!
There will be changes in the roster, new faces joining the team, but the most exciting part will be seeing the improvement of those players who will return to the team next season.
Hopefully this will be the last time in a long time that we all have to worry about losing games towards the end of the season… it’s time to start seeing these young guys compete and try to make the playoffs instead of trying to get a top draft pick going forward.
The sky is the limit.
Al Grullon, Jay Serrano, Kieran Patel and Luke Scotchie contributed to this article for Orlando Magic HQ.