Anthony Black’s future in Orlando is starting to look a little more unsettled, and the timing makes the whole situation even trickier for the Magic.
Black is eligible for an extension, but the team does not appear to be putting him near the top of the priority list right now. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Black and the Magic are not currently close on a deal, which gives the 22-year-old another possible path: restricted free agency next summer.
That uncertainty lands in the middle of a salary crunch for Orlando. The Magic are already pouring major money into Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs, and that group has pushed the club close to the second apron line. With that kind of payroll pressure, it is easy to see why the front office might hesitate before committing to Black now.
At the same time, Black has clearly moved forward on offense. His growth last season stood out, even if there are still gaps in his game that keep the discussion from being simple. If Orlando is not ready to pay him, then the burden shifts to Black to show that his strengths can outweigh the rough edges until he can clean those areas up.
As I recently discussed with my colleague RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic, the trajectory is real. "Black has taken pretty exponential jumps each of his first three years in the league.
He came in as a rookie, and I believe he played in 69 games, made 33 starts, and only averaged 4.6 points per game. He had to work through those growing pains.
Next season, after that, he increased his points per game by almost five points, and then last year jumped up to 15.
He's not a great perimeter shooter. He's pretty mediocre at the free-throw line, and he's still learning how to facilitate for his teammates. So I do think that an extension is out there.
I know Keith Smith of Spotrac kind of envisioned him falling somewhere in the four-year, $80 million range, but if the Magic decide to keep him on ice, this is absolutely a prove-it year for the young man because next year he hits restricted free agency."
If Orlando holds off, that would make this a defining season for Black, with his next contract very much tied to what he shows before restricted free agency arrives.
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Wendell Carter Jr. has already offered an early endorsement of Sweeneys style, pointing to the daily standards and detail work that come with a staff voice rooted in winning habits. Sweeney brings plenty of big-game experience from his years on contender staffs, and Orlando is betting that can translate into something more meaningful in a new setting. The real test now is whether the Magic can absorb those lessons quickly enough to turn optimism into traction. [Read more 🡒]
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Magic Bench Battle Is Starting To Shape Orlando's Early Rotation
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Anthony Black is close to returning, and Jalen Suggs is also nearing a return, which only adds another layer to a bench battle that already feels unsettled. Orlando has been using these preseason reps to evaluate who can steady the second unit and who fits best alongside the starters, and the next few games should bring even more clarity once the backcourt gets healthier. [Read more 🡒]