The Orlando Magic will place forward/center Jonathan Isaac on waivers, according to league sources cited by Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. The transaction was required before Sunday, when the final $6.5 million of his $14.5 million salary for next season would have become guaranteed.
Isaac, 28, is owed $8 million in guaranteed money for 2026-27. Orlando can either keep that full amount on next season’s books or invoke the league’s stretch provision, spreading the cap hit—approximately $1.14 million per year—across seven seasons. Stretching the contract would prevent Isaac from re-signing with the Magic until the original deal expired, while carrying the entire $8 million this year would allow the club to bring him back on a veteran minimum contract once he clears waivers. The Orlando Sentinel reports the team is leaning toward the latter option.
Waiver clearance is expected Tuesday, after which Isaac will become an unrestricted free agent.
The former No. 6 pick in the 2017 draft spent his entire NBA career with the Magic and was the roster’s longest-tenured player. Injuries limited him early, including a torn left ACL that cost him two-and-a-half seasons. Isaac returned in 2023-24, appearing in 52 games off the bench and earning a handful of Sixth Man of the Year votes while averaging 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10 minutes per game. A left knee sprain in mid-March sidelined him for Orlando’s final 17 regular-season contests and its first-round playoff loss to Detroit.
All remaining non-guaranteed years in Isaac’s contract—totaling roughly $44 million through 2028-29—will be voided once the waiver process is complete.
Source: Hoops Rumors
