Jonathan Isaac discussion

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

We haven't polled it, but it seems to me that a majority of posters here think Isaac would be a good fit for us if he were available at 7. I also think many of us have expressed our doubts that he will be available to us at 7. I normally don't like to spend a lot of time on circumstances that are not likely to occur, but recent surges by certain other draftees now have Isaac going to the Wolves in a few mocks. I thought it might be good to center Isaac-specific discussion in one thread...thoughts about his fit with us, why we might prefer other players at 7, rumors or mock drafts that provide information about where he may land in the draft, etc.

While I recognize Isaac's thin build may be a detriment to him in his early years, I don't see this as a big issue, and see him as a perfect fit for us. I recall his performance against the Gophers last season where he was matched up against players who were both older and heavier, and he more than held his own. There's not much not to like about a 6'11" guy who can handle the basketball, shoot and block shots, and just seems to have a good feel for the game. I see him as having as much upside as anyone in this draft.

But will he be available? NBADraft.com has him going to Orlando (with us taking Smith), but both DraftExpress and Fox Sports have Isaac going to us at 7...Fox has the Magic taking Monk, and DX has him dropping because the Sixers take Monk at 3. Monk seems to be gathering some steam, and his moving into the top 6 increases our chances of getting Isaac.

Are there other mocks that posters here follow, and what are they saying? Any rumors about workouts or team preferences? I have to admit my interest in the draft has increased as Isaac has dropped in a couple mocks. I don't know if he would be ready to start right away at SF, but a front line of 3 reasonably mobile seven footers (with Wig and Ricky in the backcourt) is an intriguing thought.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I just found two more mocks that have Isaac going to us...Bleacher Report and CBS Sports. CBS sports has an exciting quote from an unnamed NBA scout, who says he has the highest upside in the draft. The scout said Isaac, if he adds muscle, could someday be spoken of in the same "physically off the chart" tier as LeBron or Paul George.

There are four more data points at Basketball Insiders with four mocks from different guys. In three of them, Isaac is available to us...2 of them because Monk again gets picked earlier, and 1 because
Smith goes 5th (although in one of the three, we pick Markkanen instead of Isaac!).

So of the first 8 mocks I have looked at, Isaac is available in 7 of them...and 6 of those 7 mockers see him as our likely pick. This is exciting news, I think. Could this be the year we finally get lucky in the draft, and the player who is the best fit for us actually falls to us?

[thedoper]

I'd be fine with Issac, but would trust Thibs judgement if he went Dennis Smith too. The guy is very intriguing to me and a lot of scouts.

[Papalrep]

Where does everyone think Isaac stacks up against Anunoby? Markenen? Not just new but in 5 years. There are mocks that have us taking Markenen

[thedoper]

Where does everyone think Isaac stacks up against Anunoby? Markenen? Not just new but in 5 years. There are mocks that have us taking Markenen

My take is they're all prospects with question marks. OG has the injury risk which is always scary, but is probably the best athlete. Markkenen is probably the most surefire pro of the three in that he looks like he'll have a long career no matter what even if he's the 7-10th man on the bench. And Issac seems to have the raw potential but he is far from polished. Lots of grey area in this range it seems like.

[TheFuture]

The OG injury was the biggest disappointment for me this year. I really wish he had the chance to showcase his improvements offensively this year. Hell, even if he moved high enough to be picked top 5 then there would be a higher chance of someone like Isaac or Tatum making it to us.

OG is just the perfect fit here. Built like a brick house at 6'8 235, 7'3 wingspan yet he has quick feet. He would add to the nasty on defense that Dunn brought. He is a capable 3pt shooter with a good form, and is a damn freight train attacking the rim. Rebounds, steals, blocks shots. I love him as a prospect and he is a huge reason why I would look to move down to the 8-12 range, but I'd also take him at 7 with no issues. He is the perfect 3/4 to contribute immediately for us as our Swiss Army knife on D and let his offense come along, whereas Isaac has potential but is another skinny, wait 3 years until he has a NBA body type.

I want him on this team.

Edit: I don't mean to derail the Isaac thread, but the door was open to gush about my OG man crush. Sorry LST.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'd be fine with Issac, but would trust Thibs judgement if he went Dennis Smith too. The guy is very intriguing to me and a lot of scouts.

We absolutely cannot afford to have a player with questionable heart and motor on this team. We already have one of our franchise pillars with question marks in this area, now we'd be adding another. He had issues in high school and college. These things simply don't go away. Guys can improve in a lot of areas, but heart, motor, and/or attitude issues crop up time and time again.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The OG injury was the biggest disappointment for me this year. I really wish he had the chance to showcase his improvements offensively this year. Hell, even if he moved high enough to be picked top 5 then there would be a higher chance of someone like Isaac or Tatum making it to us.

OG is just the perfect fit here. Built like a brick house at 6'8 235, 7'3 wingspan yet he has quick feet. He would add to the nasty on defense that Dunn brought. He is a capable 3pt shooter with a good form, and is a damn freight train attacking the rim. Rebounds, steals, blocks shots. I love him as a prospect and he is a huge reason why I would look to move down to the 8-12 range, but I'd also take him at 7 with no issues. He is the perfect 3/4 to contribute immediately for us as our Swiss Army knife on D and let his offense come along, whereas Isaac has potential but is another skinny, wait 3 years until he has a NBA body type.

I want him on this team.

Edit: I don't mean to derail the Isaac thread, but the door was open to gush about my OG man crush. Sorry LST.

Part of me feels like we could get the same sort of prospect lower in the draft in Jordan Bell, albeit he's more of a 4/5 than 3/4. But just in terms of a guy willing to do all the dirty work, hustle, defend multiple positions, etc.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

The OG injury was the biggest disappointment for me this year. I really wish he had the chance to showcase his improvements offensively this year. Hell, even if he moved high enough to be picked top 5 then there would be a higher chance of someone like Isaac or Tatum making it to us.

OG is just the perfect fit here. Built like a brick house at 6'8 235, 7'3 wingspan yet he has quick feet. He would add to the nasty on defense that Dunn brought. He is a capable 3pt shooter with a good form, and is a damn freight train attacking the rim. Rebounds, steals, blocks shots. I love him as a prospect and he is a huge reason why I would look to move down to the 8-12 range, but I'd also take him at 7 with no issues. He is the perfect 3/4 to contribute immediately for us as our Swiss Army knife on D and let his offense come along, whereas Isaac has potential but is another skinny, wait 3 years until he has a NBA body type.

I want him on this team.

Edit: I don't mean to derail the Isaac thread, but the door was open to gush about my OG man crush. Sorry LST.

What has you believing he is a capable 3pt shooter? He increased his 3pt volume this year and got significantly worse (31% in college is really not good for projecting to the NBA). He's also a career 52% FT shooter. That seems like a huge reach to call that guy a capable NBA 3pt shooter already.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

A lot of you guys have me convinced on Isaac as a solid pick at #7, but I'm fairly convinced he'll be gone by then.