2017 NBA Mock Draft 2.0
Florida State. Jonathan Isaac. 5. player. 93. . SF
Player Profile:
“Listed at 6-11 — albeit possibly taller — Isaac’s size, fluidity, and shooting touch on the perimeter gives him some highly unique upside. He lacks core strength right now, which will be his biggest weakness heading to the next level, but makes up for it with length that helps him make plays in a variety of areas…
Isaac is shooting 38.5 percent from deep …, and possesses a level of scoring potential that even the highly-polished [Jayson] Tatum might not be able to reach. As his frame fills out, it’s difficult to imagine many fours capably matching up with Isaac off the bounce in isolation, while his size gives him an easy advantage over the vast majority of small forwards.” — 2017 NBA Draft Twitter Mailbag.
Outside Opinion:
“Isaac, a 6-foot-11 combo forward, has really good per game statistics (12.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals), but they don’t quite paint an accurate picture of how productive he’s been as a freshman. Florida State has 10 players averaging double-figure minutes, so Isaac actually only plays 24.9 minutes per game and his numbers when extrapolated to per 40 minutes becoming incredible (20.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.0 steals). The 19-year old has a wildly efficient 64.4 true shooting percentage and aggregate metrics like PER (27.6) and BPM (12.3) love him.
An RSCI top 10 recruit, Isaac has the size and athleticism to play either forward spot. His length has allowed him to make an incredible impact on defense at the college level, typified by his massive block of Jayson Tatum in the Seminoles win over Duke earlier this season. On offense, Isaac has made 36.1 percent of his 3-pointers and has free throw numbers (82.9) that suggest he should be able to improve once he gets more volume under his belt. He can attack in a straight line for now, but doesn’t offer a ton in the way of creation for others at this point.” — Chris Stone in FanSided’s NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 14.
Team Fit:
Isaac gives the Sixers a ton of versatility on the wing, something that could pair enticingly well alongside Ben Simmons at the other forward spot long term. His 6-11 frame in combination with his excellent mobility allows him to switch with ease defensively, giving Brett Brown a great deal of freedom in orchestrating his defensive rotations.
Offensively, Isaac’s solid perimeter shooting and improving off-the-bounce scoring give him a remarkable upside as a go-to scoring option, something he could grow into as his frame fills out long term. He can man either forward spot offensively, and boasts the length and quickness needed to create mismatches virtually anywhere on the floor.
He’s not the creator that some Philadelphia fans are hoping for, but does offer some notable team-friendly attributes. He has fit well in the midst of a deep Florida State rotation this season, and is showing the ability to fit into a complimentary role night-in and night-out. He’s someone the Sixers shouldn’t pass up on in this scenario.