The Orlando Magic have had a quiet summer, but quiet doesn’t always mean clean.
After nearly stealing a first-round series from the Detroit Pistons, then losing a 3-1 lead and moving on from head coach Jamahl Mosley, the team has spent the offseason largely standing pat. Orlando is doubling down on last year’s 45-37 group. That approach, though, has already raised questions about one move in particular.
By March, it was essentially clear the Magic were headed toward waiving Isaac. His deal for this coming season was only partially guaranteed, and he was putting together the worst season of his career while playing no real role in the rotation.
Orlando did eventually waive him, doing so one day before his $14.5 million contract would have become fully guaranteed for 2026-27. But the team left a major lever untouched. The Magic did not waive-and-stretch him, which meant they kept the contract on the books rather than spreading the remaining money out over a longer period.
That distinction mattered. Under the waive-and-stretch provision, teams can lower immediate payroll by distributing a player’s guaranteed salary over twice the remaining years on the deal, plus one. In Isaac’s case, with three years left and $8 million still guaranteed, that money could have been broken into $1.14 million chunks over seven seasons.
Instead, Orlando kept the full $8 million guarantee on this season’s books and later brought Isaac back on the veteran minimum, which is $2.5 million. The end result: about $4 million in savings, rather than the $13.4 million the Magic could have created.
That missed opportunity stands out because the Magic entered the summer with very little flexibility anyway. Stretching Isaac’s contract would have opened the door to the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth $6.1 million, while still allowing the team to add players such as Jevon Carter and Nikola Vucevic and stay below the second apron.
Now, Orlando sits roughly $2.5 million under that apron with 14 players on the roster, and Isaac is effectively taking up about $10.5 million on a book that is already crowded.
The fit is a separate issue, and it’s not a small one. Isaac, the former No. 6 overall pick, has dealt with repeated knee injuries throughout his career. He remains a disruptive defender and strong rebounder, but he’s a poor 3-point shooter and doesn’t bring much as a connector on offense.
That makes the pairing awkward. He can change a game on defense, but his offensive limitations leave the roster balance looking clunky. It will be interesting to see what Sean Sweeney has planned for him, but the Magic’s decision to show loyalty here looks like a costly one.
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Now officially retired, Steele leaves behind a legacy that reaches well beyond the mic. He said he wanted more time with his family, a decision that fits after a career spent around the game, and the Magic and their fans have taken the chance to thank him for the imprint he left on the franchise and on the sport. [Read more 🡒]