Huge Contract Decision For Magic, Waiving Former 6th Overall Pick

June 27, 2026
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In a move specifically made to help the Orlando Magic move under the second apron, the team has cut ties with their former 6th overall lottery pick in the 2017 Draft, Jonathan Isaac.

Isaac's entire  $14.5 million salary for the coming season would have become fully guaranteed tomorrow. By waiving him today, they save $6.5 million, as $8 million was fully guaranteed. He will now become an unrestricted free agent.The following two seasons on his deal were non-guaranteed.

The Magic are expected to use the waive-and-stretch, to spread out the dead money over seven years (about $1.1 million annually) to maximize cap flexibility.

There will be a number of teams in need of frontcourt help who will be interested in signing Isaac, given his length and potential, not to mention the minimum contract they would have to offer. The 6'10" Isaac has a 7'1" wingspan, and a 9-foot standing reach. He can be an elite rim protector when he's on the floor, averaging over 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes. 

Isaac missed two full seasons from 2020 through 2022, and although he had a nice bounce-back campaign two years ago, he was limited to just 10 minutes a night in the past season. He should be able to find a better rotation role elsewhere. 

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