Izaiyah

Nelson

The 51st overall pick in last month’s draft, Nelson suffered a fractured left ankle during Sunday’s win over the Trail Blazers. Signed to a two-way deal shortly after the draft, the 6-foot-9 forward is expected to be sidelined for three to four months. Nelson’s defensive ability will give him a chance to earn opportunities once he’s healthy, but there’s no need to plan to draft him in the fall.

Nelson only played 19 minutes in his first summer league game, and while he was able to grab some boards and collect some defensive stats, he wasn’t able to contribute much else. He was able to rack up the rebounds in stocks at USF last season, which is enticing for dynasty managers. His role should increase as the summer continues.

After spending his first three seasons at Arkansas State, Nelson had his most productive campaign at South Florida as a senior. In 34 games, the 6-foot-8 forward/center racked up the individual awards, earning American Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors. While Nelson is undersized for a post player, he makes up for it with an elite motor and willingness to compete as a rebounder and defender. Nelson gives the Magic another option to call upon in the frontcourt, which could prove valuable if free agent Moritz Wagner does not return.