Future Watch: Jonathan Isaac Rookie Basketball Cards, MagicFuture Watch: Jonathan Isaac Rookie Basketball Cards, Magic – It seems like the Orlando Magic have been rebuilding forever. After trading Dwight Howard to the Lakers in the summer of 2012, Orlando is on a six year playoff drought. It doesn’t help that they haven’t been able to land a solid prospect with their last few years of lottery picks, but help may have found a gem in 2017. After missing some time early in the season, forward Jonathan Isaac is ready to step up and help the team build toward the future.

Isaac spent his formative years in Florida. Between his freshman and senior seasons, he grew six inches. Early on he was a combo guard, but after the growth spurt he developed into a combo forward. Initially, he was eligible to declare for the NBA Draft after playing for IMG Academy in what was considered a “postgraduate” year in 2016. After declaring his eligibility for the NBA Draft in 2016, he would eventually decide to attend the University of Florida State for the 2016-17 season.

At Florida State, Isaac found himself on numerous preseason watch lists. He would go on to earn ACC Freshman of the Week in November 2016, and was named to the 2017 All-ACC Freshman Team. He finished his college career with per game averages of 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2, assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks. As expected by many NBA Draft scouts, he would forgo his final three years of eligibility and enter the 2017 NBA Draft.

Had it been any other draft class, Isaac would have been a surefire top-3 pick in 2017. Scouts were enamored with his rare combination of physical tools and defensive potential. At the Nike Hoops Summit, he measured 6’11” in shoes with an impressive 7’1” wingspan. Isaac’s length and perimeter foot speed gives him the ability to easily switch onto and defend guards, a must for modern NBA big men. His lateral quickness allows him to chase down blocks and disrupt passing lanes. Many scouts expected him to pick up defense at the NBA level quickly. On draft night, Isaac fell to the Magic at six overall. With the pick, they may have found a key building block for the future.

This season started rough for Isaac, as he dealt with a nagging ankle injury to begin the season. He played in 12 games at the beginning of the season, before sitting out until March so he could get back to full strength. Because of this, he’s mostly flown under the radar among rookies this season. This month, he’s played in every game averaging 21.0 minutes per contest. His most impressive game came on March 20th when he scored 10 points, grabbed five boards and added two blocks and five steals to his final line. He still has some work to do with his scoring, but he’s already making an impact defensively.

Savvy fantasy basketball owners have taken note of Isaac’s game as they chase for steals and blocks in their final weeks. Now it’s time for general NBA fans and collectors to get on board. Isaac will be given every opportunity to flourish in Orlando as they work their way back to playoff relevance. Isaac might not be a 20 point, 10 rebound a night player, but he is going to make winning plays for his team for years to come. After six long years (and a seventh shortly on the horizon) of missing the playoffs, Magic fans have a player they can root for long term.

Jonathan Isaac already has some great autographed rookie cards in the market. They can be found in 2017 Panini Contenders Collegiate Draft Picks Basketball. As a top draft pick, collectors can be assured to find NBA licensed rookie cards of Isaac in the complete portfolio of 2017-18 Panini NBA basketball card products during the 2017-18 NBA season.

Future Watch: Jonathan Isaac Rookie Basketball Cards, Magic – Other Resources

Future Watch: Jonathan Isaac Rookie Basketball Cards, Magic – Image Gallery

Here’s a look at cards featuring Jonathan Isaac in his Orlando Magic uniform.

James Gale

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