by Gee Bino Who Dat Daily Contributor
The Orlando Magic made a surprising roster move Saturday, officially waiving veteran forward Jonathan Isaac, immediately creating speculation around potential landing spots for one of the NBA’s premier defensive specialists.
For the New Orleans Pelicans, Isaac could represent exactly the type of player the organization is searching for this offseason.
Isaac’s $14.5 million salary was set to become fully guaranteed on June 28, prompting Orlando to move on from the former sixth overall pick. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Magic will save approximately $6.5 million with the transaction while still owing Isaac roughly $8 million.
Although injuries have significantly impacted his career, Isaac remains one of the league’s most intriguing defensive talents when healthy.
Why Jonathan Isaac Makes Sense for New Orleans
The Pelicans enter the offseason looking to address one of their biggest weaknesses from the 2025-26 season: defense.
New head coach Jamahl Mosley was hired in large part to repair a New Orleans defense that ranked near the bottom of the NBA last season. Mosley is extremely familiar with Isaac, having coached him during his tenure with the Orlando Magic.
That previous relationship could make New Orleans a logical destination.
At 6-foot-10 with elite length and mobility, Isaac checks several boxes the Pelicans appear to be prioritizing:
- Switchable defender capable of guarding multiple positions
- Proven rim protector
- Athletic frontcourt presence
- Floor-spacing potential
- High defensive IQ and versatility
New Orleans’ current frontcourt rotation includes promising young big men Yves Missi, Derik Queen, and Karlo Matkovic. While each possesses intriguing upside, the group remains inexperienced.
Adding a veteran defender like Isaac could provide immediate defensive stability while complementing the development of the younger players.
The Defensive Impact
When healthy, Isaac has consistently been among the NBA’s most disruptive defenders.
During his breakout 2019-20 campaign, Isaac averaged:
- 11.9 points per game
- 6.8 rebounds per game
- 2.3 blocks per game
- 1.6 steals per game
His ability to protect the rim while also switching onto perimeter players is rare.
Over his seven active NBA seasons, Isaac has averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals per contest while shooting 44.1 percent from the field.
Even in a limited role during the 2024-25 season, Isaac averaged 5.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 71 games while continuing to provide strong defensive minutes.
Last season, however, injuries again limited his effectiveness. Isaac averaged just 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 52 games and missed Orlando’s final 22 regular-season contests, as well as the playoffs, because of a sprained left knee.
Risk vs. Reward
The biggest question surrounding any potential pursuit of Isaac remains health.
Since entering the league in 2017, Isaac has played 70 or more games only twice and missed the entire 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons while recovering from a torn ACL.
Still, given the Pelicans’ need for size, versatility, and defensive toughness, Isaac could represent a low-risk, high-reward signing if available at the right price.
Mosley knows exactly what Isaac can bring when healthy.
The Pelicans need defensive reinforcements.
And Jonathan Isaac might just be one of the most intriguing free-agent targets on the market.
For a New Orleans team looking to re-establish its defensive identity, this is a situation worth monitoring closely.
