Magic bet on youth with Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac extensions

The Orlando Magic decided to lock in Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac to multi-year contract extensions prior to the start of the 2020-21 season.

For NBA teams, Dec. 21 is a date of significance, as it’s the deadline for those organizations to send out contract extension offers to their players, determining whether they’re locked in for multiple years or become free agents next summer. The Orlando Magic decided to lock in two players who they see as significant parts of their future.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic have agreed to terms with Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac on their respective contract extensions. Fultz was given a three-year, $50 million deal, while Isaac got a four-year, $80 million extension.

Magic betting on their future

Fultz, the former first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, didn’t have the ideal start to his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. A shoulder issue forced him to sit out for an indefinite period of time, limiting him to 33 games in two seasons with the club. Seeing Fultz available on the trade block, the Magic decided to take a chance and see how it paid off. So far, it’s been a decent investment.

In 72 games with Orlando this past season, Fultz averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field, all of which were career highs.

As for Isaac, he’s proven to be a bright spot in Orlando’s lineup since being selected sixth overall in the 2017 draft. The issue is that Isaac has had a lengthy injury history since entering the NBA. This past season was brutal for Isaac, as he suffered a knee injury back in January. He healed up in time to report to the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World, but then he suffered a torn ACL in the bubble, which will force him out for the entirety of the upcoming campaign.

In his three years with the Magic, Isaac has averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from the 3-point line.

The Magic sense that they have something special in these two players, and decided to reward them for their efforts. If you have the players you feel can help bring success down the line, you keep them. It’s as simple as that. And Fultz and Isaac have proven they can be difference-makers for the next few years.