If Kristaps Porzingis was the unicorn of the 2015 Draft (thanks Kevin Durant), then it’s certainly fair to dub Isaac 2017’s unicorn. He’s listed at 6-11, but the simple eye test makes him appear like he’s an inch or two taller. Oh, yeah, he also plays small forward.
Isaac is a freakishly rangy athlete on the perimeter. His height and length allow him to get off shots from almost any angle, and his ball handling allows him to create opportunities you seldom see for players his height. He’s shooting 42 percent from 3-point range, and showing increasingly more versatility as the season progresses.
In addition to his scoring potential, Isaac has shown he’s an adept passer as well. He won’t run the offense, but his ability to see the floor from the exterior and make the right play with the can’t be understated.
His one concern at this point is his frame. He’s painfully thin,but has shown that he can add some muscle this season. He’s also polishing his game off much quicker than anticipated, thus the move up the boards here.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
Talk about versatility. Isaac could let the Sixers throw four 6-10-plus players onto the court without clogging up the painted area, with the likes of Simmons, Saric, and Isaac all being capable perimeter pieces. Not to mention, Embiid can shoot as well.
Isaac provides that aforementioned wing depth, but in a unique manner — to say the absolute least. He’d bring both spacing and a potential go-to option long term. His frame could make him more of a long term project, but that’s a worthwhile endeavor given his raw upside, even in a loaded class like this one.
Isaac has a rare combination of size and skill, and one that could allow Brett Brown to mold his rotations in an entirely new manner. He’s the type of risky pick that Bryan Colangelo might shy away from, but one that should be embraced wholeheartedly as a real option at any spot in the lottery.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
"You’ll probably hear some Brandon Ingram comparisons as the draft gets closer, and Isaac indeed comes from a similar template. A spindly forward, his height, jump shot and fluidity make him a obvious candidate to space the floor and score at the next level. He’s less polished than Ingram (who’s just a month older), particularly as a ball-handler. Nevertheless, it’s the type of projectable skill set that gives him a chance to get picked very high. He needs to get stronger (where have you heard that one before?), but he’s off to a very nice start."
Big Board Rankings:
- Big Board 3.0 — 11
- Jeremy Woo — 7
- DraftExpress — 7
- Sam Vecenie — 4