Given the financial restrictions that are attached to being a first-apron team, the Orlando Magic were limited in what moves they could make this offseason.

The Magic made three free-agent signings to kick off the month of July: A one-year deal for veteran center Nikola Vucevic, a one-year deal for veteran guard Jevon Carter and a one-year deal for veteran forward Jonathan Isaac. 

Isaac was brought back after the organization cut him days earlier to avoid paying $14.5 million that would have been owed to him if he had been kept on the roster past June 28. However, Orlando’s front office decided on bringing Isaac back.

The terms of Isaac’s deal were not released by the Magic, but according to Spotrac, his contract is worth $3.5 million. When Isaac agreed to this deal, I was not shy about airing out my criticisms of it on the Full Court Magic Podcast.

Last season was truly abysmal for Isaac. He appeared in just 52 games and averaged a career-low 2.6 points while shooting a career-worst 18.4% from 3-point range. 

Given Isaac’s poor play and injury history, it seemed like the Magic were going to take the chance to move on from him in the offseason, but since that is not the case, what does Isaac need to do to prove his value and show that he is worth the roster spot?

This might seem like an obvious one, but Isaac’s health is more of an issue than his production. 

He missed back-to-back seasons after tearing his ACL in 2020, and he has only had two seasons during his seven-year career where he played more than 65 games. Without being healthy and getting legitimate reps, Isaac will never have a chance of finding a true rhythm and recapturing what has made him a solid player in the past.

Additionally, Isaac’s ability to remain healthy contributes to the Magic’s depth that, because of injuries to other players as well, has been tenuous in recent years.

For all of Isaac’s flaws, he is a great defender at his core.

At 6-foot-10 and 230 pounds, he has the size and versatility to be a productive switch defender. If he cannot reclaim his offensive game, then doing what made him a promising young player at the beginning of his career becomes even more vital.

Before he tore his ACL in 2020, Isaac was having a fantastic year. To this day, his averages of 11.9 points, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals are his highest marks yet. 

If Isaac can even partially recapture that level of defensive prowess, then the bet on bringing him back just might pay off.