Isaac looks forward to taking next steps
The Orlando Magic will convene for training camp 2½ months from now.
Jonathan Isaac must make the most of that time.
The rookie played well in his three Orlando Pro Summer League games, but those games also confirmed what everybody already knew: Isaac must start transforming his body and put some productive muscle onto his wispy 6-foot-10, 220-pound frame.
“He’s got to get his core stronger,” coach Frank Vogel said.
“That’s the biggest thing for him. He’s going to be banged around by some grown men this year. Everybody wants to come in and bulk up with their shoulders and their bench press and their beach body and everything. But for him, it’s really about his core and focusing on that and just trying to accelerate that part of his physical development as quickly as possible.”
The 19-year-old forward has planned to work on his physique for a long time, but the games reinforced that lesson. On Monday, in Orlando’s third game, Isaac went up for a shot, banged into two Dallas Mavericks defenders and landed awkwardly. In the process, he strained his left hip.
He must prepare for countless more collisions in the season ahead.
Isaac said he plans to work on “everything” before camp starts, but he said getting stronger is his first priority.
“That’s the biggest focus right now: my center of gravity, my lower body,” Isaac said.
NBA decision-makers try not to over-evaluate a rookie’s summer-league performance, but at least Isaac offered positive signs in the three games he played.
In 18.6 minutes per game, he averaged 10.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and those numbers likely would’ve been better if he hadn’t suffered his injury early in the game against Dallas.
He also met or exceeded expectations defensively. He displayed the quick, agile feet that led many scouts around the league to think he’ll be able to switch effectively on pick-and-rolls. He also anticipated shots and rebounding caroms well.
“We were very pleased with Jonathan,” said Jeff Weltman, the Magic’s president of basketball operations. “I think he showed a lot of the potential that we saw in him in the draft — not just his talent but his ability to make others around him better. I think his team orientation came through. The feedback that we got was a lot of the league kind of saw the same thing that we saw.
“I think that he was unfairly criticized [leading up to the draft] for not having the aggressiveness at times that we had heard about,” Weltman added. “But I think a lot of that is just him playing the right way. He makes good basketball decisions. He makes other guys better and he’s a very intelligent player. So as his body matures and he kind of gets an understanding of what the NBA game is about, I think his potential is great.”
The Magic also were pleased with how Isaac responded when he sat out their final two games. In those exhibitions, including an 86-78 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in the sixthplace game Thursday, he was engaged on the bench.
“Every time I looked over, he was paying attention closely in our film sessions,” said Chad Forcier, the Magic’s lead assistant coach. “He was engaged in timeouts. He was sitting close to coaches on the bench watching and learning and listening and asking questions. So I think he really took advantage of his week.”
Now Isaac’s next step is obvious: taking advantage of the next 2½ months.
“I’m excited,” Isaac said. “I want to get back on the floor, get back to working out.”