Isaac recorded 15 points (6-12 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-4 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one block across 15 minutes during Wednesday's 129-117 win over the G League Knicks.

EDGE Analysis

Isaac, who was assigned to the G League on Wednesday, posted 15 points in just as many minutes during Lakeland's win over Westchester. The 25-year-old's return to the floor in any capacity is an encouraging sign considering he's missed nearly the last two and a half seasons while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee as well as another procedure to address a hamstring injury. Isaac is expected to suit up for Friday's game versus the Swarm before potentially returning to Orlando.

Isaac (knee) is scheduled to begin an assignment with the G League's Lakeland Magic on Wednesday and is expected to appear in two games for the affiliate, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Isaac has missed nearly two-and-a-half seasons while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee as well as another surgery to address a hamstring issue that cropped up during his ramp-up process last spring. The Magic have remained relatively quiet regarding Isaac's status throughout the process, but his ability to play in a competitive game is obviously a massive step in the right direction. If all goes well during the two-game G League assignment, he could be ready to make his first NBA appearance since Aug. 2, 2020. Once available, Isaac will likely play a reserve role, though it's unclear exactly where he'll fit in a rotation that's significantly different than the last time he suited up. During the 2019-20 campaign, Isaac averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.6 steals and 1.4 assists in 28.8 minutes per game (34 appearances). Before the rash of injuries, Isaac was tracking as one of the best defensive contributors in fantasy basketball, but at this point he'll have to prove he can stay even relatively healthy before managers are willing to buy back in.

Isaac (knee) remains out for Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers.

EDGE Analysis

Head coach Jamahl Mosley said on Jan. 2 that Isaac has resumed participating fully in practices, but because he hasn't played in an NBA game since Aug. 2, 2020, the sixth-year forward may need an extended ramp-up period. Though he was a must-roster fantasy player when he was healthy during the 2019-20 season, Isaac's lengthy layoff means that he'll likely be subject to significant minute restrictions when he ultimately returns, making it difficult to envision him getting a large enough role to be a useful contributor outside of deeper leagues.

Isaac (knee) is listed as out for Monday's game in Sacramento.

EDGE Analysis

Though head coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed last week that Isaac has resumed participating fully in practice, the Magic aren't yet offering up a timeline for when the 25-year-old might see his first game action since the 2019-20 season. It's not entirely clear if Isaac joined the Magic on its ongoing five-game road trip that began Saturday at Golden State, making the forward's status murky for the team's remaining three contests during the upcoming week. Given his lengthy layoff from competition, Isaac will likely have extensive playing-time restrictions whenever he's cleared to make his season debut.

Head coach Jamahl Mosley said Isaac (knee) was full go at practice Monday, but there still isn't a timetable for the forward's return to game action, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mosley added that the team will wait to see how Isaac responds to practice before setting a timetable for a potential season debut. Isaac continues to take the necessary steps toward returning to game action, but fantasy managers shouldn't hold their breath. Seeing as the 2017 first-round pick hasn't played in an NBA regular season game since 2019, he'll presumably need plenty of time to knock off the rust before he's thrust into an expanded role.

Isaac (knee) took part in practice Tuesday as part of his rehab process but remains without a timetable for his return to action, Dan Savage of the Magic's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Isaac's appearance at practice is another step in his recovery, but he remains without a precise date for his eventual return to the floor. He's already been ruled out for Wednesday's game, but an upgrade on the injury report before a future game should signal he's drawing closer.

Orlando assigned Isaac (knee) to the G League's Lakeland Magic on Tuesday, Dan Savage of NBA.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Isaac hasn't played in an NBA game since tearing his ACL at the NBA bubble in Orlando in the summer of 2020. He was initially expected to be back some time during the 2021-22 campaign, but a hamstring injury that required surgery derailed his rehab process. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 draft has been playing in 5-on-5 drills over the last month, and he appears ready to take the next step forward in his rehab by practicing in the G League. It's unclear if Orlando plans on having him suit up for any of Lakeland's games during his assignment, but at the very least, he'll likely need multiple practices in order to regain conditioning before he's deemed ready for his 2022-23 NBA debut.

Isaac (knee) said Monday that he feels closer than he's ever been to returning to game action since his last NBA appearance Aug. 2, 2020, but he'll still need to use "the next few weeks" to get back into playing shape and integrate himself with the team, Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel reports. "I've been playing [5-on-5] the last few weeks and just getting in shape," Isaac said. "I'm still getting there. But in terms of body, knees and hamstrings, everything is great. I'm just not in game shape."

EDGE Analysis

Isaac was first sidelined on account of the torn ACL he sustained while playing at the NBA bubble in Orlando, and he later underwent surgery on his left knee to address that injury as well as damage to his meniscus. After sitting out the entire 2020-21 season, Isaac was expected to return to the court at some point in 2021-22, only to suffer an injury to his right hamstring during the rehab process and requiring another procedure back in March. Updates since that hamstring procedure have been few and far between, and at this stage, the Magic no longer appear to be viewing the 2017 lottery pick as a core piece in their rebuilding effort. The fact that he's advanced to 5-on-5 work is at least a positive step for Isaac, but because of his lengthy layoff, he sounds like he'll still need at least a few more weeks to regain enough conditioning just to be available to play brief spurts off the bench for the Magic. Even though Isaac has shown in the past that he's a game-changing defender when healthy, his uncertain timeline to debut along with the fact that he'll likely face significant playing-time restrictions makes it tough to justify holding him in most fantasy leagues.

Isaac (hamstring) is out Friday at Atlanta and remains sidelined indefinitely.

EDGE Analysis

Isaac is still limited in practice, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to return soon. He won't be close to playing in a game until he gets some full practice in, and it's not clear when that will happen. It would be surprising if he returned this month.

Isaac (hamstring) won't play in Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Pistons, Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Isaac hasn't appeared in an NBA game since January 2020, having endured a longer-than-anticipated recovery from an ACL tear suffered in August of that year before undergoing surgery on his right hamstring last March. His ongoing recovery from the hamstring surgery limited his activity in practice throughout training camp and sidelined him for all of Orlando's preseason matchups, so he'll likely be in line to miss multiple games to begin the regular season. Even though Isaac signed a four-year contract extension in December 2021, his checkered injury history along with the selection of Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in this past summer's draft hint that Isaac may no longer be viewed as a foundational piece for the Magic.