Orlando Magic waive veteran forward Jonathan Isaac

The Orlando Magic waived veteran forward Jonathan Isaac on Saturday, before a contractual deadline that would have guaranteed his full salary for the 2026-27 season.

Because they waived Isaac before Sunday, the Magic now owe Isaac his partially guaranteed sum of $8 million instead of his full 2026-27 salary of $14.5 million.

On his contract, Isaac also had partially guaranteed salaries of $14.5 million for the 2027-28 season and $14.5 million for the 2028-29 season. Now those salaries come off the books in full.

Waiving Isaac was imperative to Orlando because significant salary commitments to Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner have helped to put Orlando into the tax. As Bobby Marks noted, waiving Isaac leaves the Magic $9.5 million over the luxury tax and $2.9 million above the first apron.

It would not be a shock if the Magic decide to re-sign Isaac to a veteran’s-minimum salary.

But there is a caveat. For cap purposes, Orlando is permitted to stretch the $8 million he is owed over the seven seasons. If Orlando decides to stretch that $8 million, Orlando would not be permitted to re-sign him.

At 6 feet 10, Isaac, who will turn 29 in early October, is one of the league’s most versatile defenders.

The Magic picked him sixth in the 2017 NBA Draft, but a series of knee injuries have hampered his development on the offensive end.