4 radioactive free agents the Cavaliers could sign at a discount

Radioactive Free Agent No. 3: Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic

Jonathan Isaac is radioactive in two ways, and not simply because the number of X-rays he has taken over the years may have changed his molecular structure. The first is the most obvious and the most meaningful: he can’t stay healthy. Isaac has played in just 11 games over the past three seasons, and only 34 games the season before that.

Despite an insane amount of talent and a truly special skillset, Isaac isn’t worth much to teams if he’s in street clothes. His combination of shot-blocking, steal-swiping and finishing touch are electric when he is on the court; how much can any team expect him to be?

Isaac is on a partially-guaranteed contract for a total of $16 million this season. If the Orlando Magic tire of paying him to much for him to never see the court, and especially if they find another way to use their cap space, they could waive or trade Isaac. If he is made available, he’s worth the Cavaliers looking at as an option to be their third-big in the nastiest defensive rotation you’ve ever seen on a team.

The other reason Isaac is a bit radioactive is that he seems to be the kind of rational and brave human being who takes his personal faith and actually applies it to his life, rather than simply allowing public opinion to dictate it. Unfortunately for Isaac and any team to acquire him, the politics of the NBA and much of their fan base runs counter to Isaac in a few ways, and if he were to change teams activists would probably highlight that. It has never seemed to harm Isaac’s relationship with his teammates and he seems like the kind of high-integrity player any team would want, but it’s something that may ding his value in the eyes of some teams.