Orlando Magic News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

USA TODAY Sports

NBA Trade Talk: Should Mavs Make Offer for Magic's Jonathan Isaac?

Originally posted on FanNation Dallas Basketball
By Dalton Trigg | Last updated 12/4/23

After starting the season off with an 8-2 record through their first 10 games, the Dallas Mavericks have gone 3-6 in the nine games since then and now have an overall record of 11-8, which is currently good enough for sixth in the Western Conference standings.

With three days off before a three-game stretch against teams with below-.500 records coming up, there is optimism that the Mavs will be able to get things back on track, especially since it appears that Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. will be back for Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz.

Luka Doncic is playing at an MVP level, and rookie big man Dereck Lively II is proving to be the most impactful rookie the franchise has had since Doncic in 2018, so if the Mavs are able to get their other key guys healthy in the next few days, now is a great opportunity to go on a run and stack up some wins.

All that being said, even if Dallas is able to turn things around against a handful of lesser opponents, the the roster still needs some upgrades going forward in order for the Mavs to be elevated to contender status and not just a playoff hopeful. Center depth is needed behind Lively, but Dallas also needs at least one more big, defensive-minded wing to help tie things together, and Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac could be an affordable option.

After posting a career year through 34 games in the 2019-20 season before tearing his ACL, causing him to essentially miss all of the last three seasons, Isaac hasn't been able to reestablish his role with the Magic. In 15 games this season, Isaac is playing 13.4 minutes per game off the bench and averaging 6.3 points, 4.5 and 1.3 blocks while shooting just 43.8 percent overall and 22.9 percent from deep. He only attempts 4.9 field goals per game.

Orlando has finally turned a corner this season, currently holding a 14-6 record while being second in the Eastern Conference standings, and truth be told, it really doesn't really need Isaac anymore, especially at a price of $17 million per year through the end of the 2024-25 season. However, Isaac could probably use a change of scenery in order to potentially gain a bigger role, and the Mavs just so happen to need another starting forward with his abilities.

Although Isaac's 3-point shot hasn't been great this season – and he's only a 32.5 percent shooter from deep for his career – Derrick Jones Jr. is a testament to what playing in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic can do for shooting percentages. In 19 games, Jones, who signed a veteran minimum deal with Dallas in the offseason, is averaging a career-best 9.8 points per game while shooting a career-best – by far – 41.5 percent from deep when he's shot 31.9 percent on 3s for his career.

Given Isaac's salary, a straight-up trade for Tim Hardaway Jr. would work, in theory. However, given Hardaway's importance to the Mavs' offense as a Sixth Man of the Year Candidate, Dallas might want to try to swing something more like Richaun Holmes and Jaden Hardy for Isaac.

Regardless, we believe this idea is something the Mavs should at least consider as trade rumors and speculation start to ramp up over the next two months. Adding a 6-10, defensive-minded, hybrid forward into the mix with Doncic, Irving and the rest of the starters could have a trickle-down effect and give the rest of the Dallas roster the balance it needs.