The last time we saw Jonathan Isaac, he was being taken off the court in a wheelchair after suffering a devastating knee injury in the bubble in August of 2020. Now, more than a year after he needed surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus, Isaac is making good progress on his recovery and should return to action soon.

Exactly when that will be remains unknown. Earlier this month, David Aldridge of The Athletic reported that Isaac will not be ready for full participation when training camp opens up, though he will be able to take part in some drills. In any case, it's clear that Isaac will be on the court again this season, and that's great news for him and everyone in Indiana.

Isaac is one of the most fascinating players in the league because of his rare combination of size, athleticism and defensive instincts. Though he was limited to just 34 games in the 2019-20 season due to multiple knee injuries, he averaged 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks. Though he didn't play enough games to qualify for the league leaders, those numbers would have been good for fifth in steals and third in blocks.

While stats don't always tell the truth when it comes to defense, the fact that Isaac would have been the only player in the top five in both categories gives you a pretty good indication of the level he was reaching. With the obvious caveat that we have to see how he responds from this layoff and surgery, Isaac has the tools to be an All-Defensive player.

The offensive side of the ball is more of a work in progress, but Isaac was showing strides before getting hurt. Perhaps most importantly, he was shooting 34 percent from 3-point land that season. If he can hit shots from the perimeter consistently, it will open up so much for both him and the Pacers in terms of lineup flexibility.