NBA prospect primer: SF Jonathan Isaac

Unlike the NFL Draft process which unfolds over months and months, the NBA season turns around to the draft so quickly that it can sneak up on you. In advance of June 22, we're going to take a look at some of the top prospects and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Obviously, a lot of redditors know about these prospects already and have formed their own opinions, but this series is intended for those NBA fans who haven't studied the draft yet and want a one-stop shop to get to know the next generation of NBA talent.

######SF Jonathan Isaac, Florida State

his career

Born in the Bronx, Jonathan Isaac started off as a guard, but jolted up 6 more inches in high school to grow into a 6'11" wiry frame. As a result, he became a top 10 prospect.

He ended up committing to Florida State in a somewhat surprising decision. Coach Leonard Hamilton parlayed his diaper dandy Isaac and veteran Dwayne Bacon into a 26-9 record and #3 seed in the tournament, his best record in 15 years at the post.

Although the sophomore Bacon was still the team's leading scorer, Isaac thrived as a second banana, averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds despite limited minutes (26.2 per game). He jumped after his freshman year, with the expectation that he'll be a top 10 pick.

why he'll succeed

Even if you watch Isaac play for two minutes, you can see that he has the "tools" that you want in a basketball star. He's a lanky 6'11" with a shooting touch -- 50.8% from the field as mentioned, as well as a solid 78.0% from the line and 34.8% from beyond the arc. That shot looks pure -- he should even be able to improve from there.

You also have to like Isaac's defensive potential, given his frame and his 7'1" wingspan. He grabbed 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game at FSU, highlighting that upside. He should develop into a strong defender at the SF position, with the potential to be an excellent stretch PF as well as he continues to add weight.

why he'll struggle

Given his physical traits and skill set, there's little chance that Isaac will "struggle" in the NBA. The bigger question mark is: does he have the mentality to thrive?

Isaac looked content to play second fiddle to Bacon at Florida State, and never demonstrated the killer instinct that you'd want in a star player. He often settled for jumpers on the perimeter. There's nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but it makes you wonder if he has the personality traits of an All-Star.

You'll often hear the "Kevin Durant" comparison for Isaac because of his frame and shooting potential, but we have to keep in mind that Durant came into Texas as an assassin, firing away 18.5 shots per game en route to a 25.8 ppg scoring average. Isaac, on the other hand, blended in, shooting just 8.0 times per game. He didn't exactly improve on that aggressiveness either -- in fact, he averaged 15.1 points in his first seven games of college, and only 9.8 in the final twelve.

Given that, there's a non-zero chance that Isaac will turn into a disappointing player like Syracuse star turned #4 pick Wes Johnson, who had all the "tools" but not the killer instinct. The two had very similar stats in college, with Johnson averaging 16.5 points on 8.3 shots, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.8 blocks (albeit as a junior)

best team fits

SAC (#5) -- if Sacramento wants to wait until pick #10 to find a point guard, Isaac makes a lot of sense for their #5 pick. The Kings have a massive hole at both SF and PF, which are two positions that the hybrid Isaac should be able to play in the pros.

MIN (#7) -- That Wes Johnson comp may scare off Timberwolves fans, but I still think Isaac would be an ideal fit for this team. Defensively, he can play the PF position alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and give you a killer death lineup. Offensively, he may never be the go-to star, but he'd be a good spacer and complement to the stars already on the roster.

overall grades

For this, we're using the scale that:

• = bust

** = rotational player

*** = starter

**** = good starter

***** = All-Star

immediate impact : **

low-end career : ***

upside career : ****

total score : 9 stars. (#6 prospect on our big board)

previous prospect primers

#1 -- Josh Jackson, #2 -- Markelle Fultz, #3 -- Lonzo Ball, #4 -- Jayson Tatum, #5 -- Malik Monk, #6 -- Jonathan Isaac, #7 -- Dennis Smith, #8 -- De'Aaron Fox, # 9 -- Lauri Markkanen, #10 -- Jarrett Allen, other lottery talent