For those who have seen the 1964 version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, there’s a scene where Rudolph goes to the Island of Misfit Toys. This is a land filled with toys that have defects and weren’t wanted by kids because they didn’t work properly. The Lakers have quietly become the Island of Misfit Toys of the NBA, as every offseason they make cheap swings on failed players who were once viewed as high-potential.
Malik Monk, Cam Reddish, Lonnie Walker, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, and now Deandre Ayton are a few names that instantly come to mind, and Rob Pelinka may have found his next misfit in Magic forward Jonathan Isaac.Â
Isaac is likely to be waived by the Orlando Magic soon, as his contract becomes fully guaranteed on June 28. At this moment, Isaac’s guarantee is set at $8 million, but if the Magic don’t opt to waive him before the deadline, it jumps to $14.5 million. With the Magic teetering on the edge of a cap nightmare, waiving and stretching JI’s $8 million before the deadline looks like their best possible option.Â
If this scenario does come to fruition, Isaac makes so much sense as a Lakers free agent target.
The newest misfit could be the best yet
Let’s rewind time to pre-injury Jonathan Isaac. Before falling down a nasty path of poor health, Isaac looked like a future Defensive Player of the Year early in his NBA career. Whether it was blocking shots, getting steals, locking down anyone one through five, or showcasing freakish athleticism, he had all the makings of a defensive monster.
But once injuries started stacking up, he looked less balanced, more all over the place, and lost some of his athleticism. Don’t get me wrong, his instincts and talent are still very much there defensively, but it doesn’t come with that same pop.
So if Isaac has lost a step, why would LA even entertain signing him, you ask? There are a few reasons: he’ll be cheap, he is still incredibly talented, and alongside a star-studded cast, he can focus on getting healthy and back to being an elite defensive player.
With the Lakers, we talk about buy-low targets all the time because they are spending so much money on the top three of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. So why not target someone who, at his best, is the exact type of frontcourt piece this team is missing? All regular season and postseason, the Lakers didn’t have a point of attack defender or rim protector, and Isaac could be both in one.Â
Even offensively, if he can get a little pop back, maybe not start running like a gazelle in transition again, but catch a few lobs and finish some plays, that could bring value.
Sure, for years now, the Lakers have been burned by giving guys second or sometimes third or fourth chances, but it also pays off sometimes. Malik Monk turned into a $20 million player because of LA. Jaxson Hayes, who is a serviceable second- or third-string center. If Orlando is going to kick Isaac to the curb figuratively, Rob Pelinka should get him on the phone, get him on the LeBron body treatment routine, and see where it goes.
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