Anthony Black is heading into a pivotal 2026-27 season, and the stakes are bigger than just another year of development.
It’s his fourth season in the league, Orlando has a new head coach, and he’s on track to hit restricted free agency after the year. Put that together, and Black’s season becomes about more than just numbers. It’s about proving he belongs in Orlando’s long-term plans.
He already gave the Magic plenty to think about in 2025-26. Black handled a bigger role and posted career-best marks across the board, starting a personal-high 40 games while logging 29.8 minutes per night. He averaged 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals, all career highs, while shooting 44.7% from the field and 33.3% from three.
That kind of jump matters. If he can hold that line, it gives him a strong foundation heading into a season where his fit could become just as important as his production. For Black, the clearest areas to watch are his three-point shooting and his playmaking.
The shooting piece is especially important because Orlando needs help there. If Black can become a steadier threat from deep, he would give the Magic something they clearly want: another floor-spacer who can make life easier for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. That kind of growth could change how defenses have to guard the entire offense.
The passing side matters too. If Black can add more creation without giving back the scoring he already showed last season, his case for being the team’s starting point guard gets much stronger. That would be even more valuable if it helps Banchero, Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.
Of course, this isn’t just about fit on the court. Orlando’s financial picture is part of the equation too. As Alex Golden of OnSI wrote:
"The Magic have significant long-term money committed to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr., making Anthony Black's next contract a complicated decision.
"Black took a considerable step forward offensively last season, but improving his three-point shooting would only strengthen his case for a lucrative extension. With Orlando battling numerous injuries, Black received additional opportunities and made the most of them, averaging two "stocks" per game while shooting nearly 36% from three, compared to a season average of 33% when starting.
"The question isn't necessarily whether Black deserves another contract, but whether Orlando can afford to pay him what he could command on the market. With Bane, Suggs, Banchero and Wagner already earning significant salaries, the Magic may eventually have to choose between Black and Suggs.
"Another strong defensive season, paired with consistent offensive production, could convince Orlando that Black is the better long-term investment and potentially it's starting point guard,"
So Black’s path is pretty clear. Keep building on what he showed in 2025-26, sharpen the three-point shot, grow as a creator, and continue delivering on both ends. If he does that, he’ll make a strong case for a long-term deal in Orlando.
But even then, the money side won’t disappear. For the Magic, Black’s future isn’t just about performance. It’s about how much room they have to pay for it.
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Anthony Black Faces A Defining Season With The Magic
Anthony Black enters this season with a clear sense of where he stands in Orlando. The young guard has shown real offensive growth, and the Magic see enough progress to keep investing time in him, but the front office is also operating with tight financial parameters because of the money already committed to the core. That makes his contract situation worth watching even before opening night.
Black is now at the point where another step forward could reshape how the Magic view him long term. His development still has areas left to clean up, and this season may end up carrying extra weight in evaluating whether he fits into Orlandos future plans. For a team trying to balance upside with payroll realities, his year could become one of the more important individual storylines on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Coaching Reset Could Define What This Core Really Is
Orlandos coaching reset arrives with real weight, because this is more than a simple change on the sideline. Sean Sweeney takes over as the Magics new head coach after building his reputation as an assistant and associate head coach around the league, and the move puts a fresh voice in charge of a roster still trying to define its ceiling. For a team built around a young core and growing expectations, the hire will quickly become part of the bigger evaluation.
Wendell Carter Jr. has already offered one early sign of buy-in, pointing to the standards Sweeney brings into the room and the kind of structure the group is hearing about. Sweeneys background includes two trips to the NBA Finals in an assistant role, which gives him plenty of credibility even as he begins his first shot at running a team. The challenge now is turning that experience into a new identity before the Magic can know exactly what this group is capable of. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Showed The Identity Fans Wanted To See Against Cleveland
For one night at the Kia Center, the Magic looked a lot like the version of themselves their fans have been waiting to see. Orlando handled Cleveland 132-116 in preseason play, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner setting the tone early and carrying much of the offensive burden in the first half. Their play gave the game a familiar feel for a team that wants its identity built around size, versatility and two-way pressure.
The encouraging part for Orlando was that the performance was not only about scoring. The Magic were sharper defensively, made life harder on the Cavaliers from long range and controlled the glass in a way that helped keep the game tilted their way. It was preseason, so the result will not count in the standings, but it still offered a useful snapshot of how this group wants to look when it is clicking. [Read more 🡒]