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Well, the Magic have signed a point guard named Isaiah. It just isn’t the one everyone has been expecting.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Magic signed former Kentucky point guard Isaiah Briscoe, who is on the Magic’s summer league roster and could potentially serve as the Magic’s third-string point guard with some tantalizing potential.
Free agent guard Isaiah Briscoe has agreed to a deal with the Orlando Magic, league sources tell ESPN. Briscoe, 22, impressed in a team mini-camp recently. He worked way back onto NBA radar after an outstanding season in Estonia.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2018
Briscoe, started 69 of 70 games over two seasons for the Wildcats, and during his sophomore season in 2017 averaged 12.1 points, 5.4 rebound and 4.2 assists per game. In two seasons at Kentucky, Briscoe shot 45.5 percent from the field but just 22.9 percent from three (though he did jump from 13.5 percent as a freshman to 28.8 percent as a sophomore).
He declared for the NBA Draft but went undrafted. He played briefly for the Sixers summer league team and was later signed by the Blazers in September of 2017, averaging 6.2 points and 2.3 assists in the preseason before getting waived.
He spent the year playing in Estonia’s professional basketball league and guided BC Kalev/Cramo to the championship, which was the team’s third straight. Briscoe, who is 22 years old, averaged 18.5 points and 4.2 assists last season overseas, according to CBS Sports. He has also won Russian Young Player of the Year and was the MVP of the Estonia/Latvia All-Star Game after scoring 50 points.
Briscoe, at 6-3 and 220 pounds, has drawn attention around the league and must have made an impression on the Magic during summer league mini-camp.
Just talked to one of the toughest and most competitive players I’ve ever coached, @ZayBriscoe! He is with the Orlando Magic working to make their club. I’m getting great reports!
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 27, 2018
The signing could be a little disappointing for those Magic fans who have been hoping for Orlando to sign free agent Isaiah Thomas. This move in no way takes the Magic out of the running on Thomas. If Briscoe does earn a spot on the Magic roster, it will likely be as the third point guard behind D.J. Augustin and whoever Orlando brings in via a signing or trade.
Sounds to me like he is worth a flyer...