Orlando parts ways with Jonathan Isaac ahead of contract guarantee

The Orlando Magic officially moved on from veteran forward Jonathan Isaac on Saturday, waiving the former lottery pick just one day before his $14.5 million salary for the 2026-27 season was set to become fully guaranteed.

According to ESPN salary cap analyst Bobby Marks, the decision saves Orlando approximately $6.5 million against the salary cap. The Magic still owe Isaac $8 million, but the organization chose not to stretch the remaining salary over seven seasons. That decision leaves open the possibility of Isaac returning to Orlando later if he remains unsigned during free agency.

The move marks the end of an era for one of the franchise’s most talented but injury-stricken players.

Selected sixth overall by Orlando in the 2017 NBA Draft, Isaac arrived with expectations of becoming one of the league’s premier defensive forwards. At 6-foot-10 with elite length, athleticism, and versatility, he showed flashes of All-Defensive Team potential whenever he was healthy.

However, injuries consistently derailed his career.

Isaac appeared in at least 70 games only twice during his nine seasons with the Magic. The biggest setback came in 2020 when he suffered a torn left ACL during the NBA bubble. The injury forced him to miss the entire 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, significantly slowing his development.

Even after returning, Isaac struggled to remain on the court consistently.

Last season, he appeared in 52 games, averaging 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds while serving primarily as a reserve. His campaign ended prematurely after suffering a sprained left knee, causing him to miss Orlando’s final 22 regular-season games as well as the Magic’s first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.

Despite the limited production, Isaac remained a respected presence in the locker room and was widely regarded as one of the NBA’s most impactful defenders when healthy.

For Orlando, the move provides additional financial flexibility as the franchise continues building around its young core and prepares for the next phase of free agency. Meanwhile, Isaac now enters the open market hoping to revive his career with a new organization that believes his defensive abilities can still make a meaningful impact if he can finally stay healthy.

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