Anthony Black enters the 2026-27 season as one of the Orlando Magic’s most important swing pieces.
The 22-year-old just put together a big third year in the league, and Orlando’s quiet offseason only puts more weight on what its returning players can provide. With no major splash to reshape the roster, the Magic’s next step in the East will have to come from the group already in place. Black sits near the center of that conversation.
He’s already shown he can handle more responsibility. In 2025-26, Black posted career highs in points at 15, rebounds at 3.8, assists at 3.7 and steals at 1.4.
Those numbers climbed across all three of his regular seasons, a steady rise that helped define his development. He also started 40 games and averaged 29.8 minutes per contest, both personal bests.
That leaves three clear paths for him this season.
The best-case version is the one Orlando would love to see: another jump. If Black keeps building on last season, his production could start looking like that of a top starter. That kind of growth would matter even more if injuries force him into the lineup, because he’s already shown he can fill a starting spot when needed.
There’s also a middle ground, and it’s not a bad one. If Black simply matches what he did a year ago, the Magic still get a valuable piece off the bench and a capable starter when called upon. That outcome would look even better if Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero take steps forward in their offensive games.
The least ideal scenario is the one where Black stays useful but the team needs more. Consistency from year three would still count for something, but with Orlando leaning so heavily on its returning core, the Magic need more than just steadiness from their key pieces. In a crowded Eastern Conference, they’ll be asking a lot from the players already on the roster.
And if injuries hit, Black’s importance only grows. Orlando would need him to produce at a high level to stay competitive, and the strength of the bench could end up swinging real results. In that setting, Black becomes a major part of whether the second unit helps carry the team or leaves it exposed.
In Other News...
Jalen Suggs Just Landed In A Tough Spot For Orlando
Jalen Suggs latest national ranking is a reminder of how much his value to the Magic still hinges on both ends of the floor. ESPN slotted the Orlando guard at No. 98, a steep drop from No. 59 in 2025, even though his defensive profile remains one of the teams clearest selling points. He finished last season sixth in steals per game and posted a career-best defensive net rating, the kind of impact that can tilt possessions even when the box score does not always capture it.
The concern, of course, is availability. Suggs has missed at least 25 games in four of his five NBA seasons, and that history matters for a Magic backcourt that also has to make room for Anthony Black. ESPNs projection of 13.2 points, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals this season suggests there is still real two-way production to tap into, but Orlando is left balancing upside against the reality that one of its most important perimeter defenders has yet to stay on the court long enough to fully settle the discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Paolo Banchero Hype Meets One Big Reality Check For The Magic
The Magics long view for the 2026-27 season is starting to take shape around a familiar hope, a new coach, and a roster that still has some obvious holes to patch. Sean Sweeney brings fresh energy to the bench, and the front office has already made a few moves in recent years, including the departures of Nikola Vucevic and Jevon Carter, while Jonathan Isaac remains part of the broader conversation about the teams direction.
Paolo Banchero is the centerpiece of the optimism, but there is still a real question about how consistently he can perform like a true top-tier star over the course of a full season. Orlandos biggest issue may be just as basic as it is persistent: the shooting has not been good enough, especially from three-point range, and the offseason did not bring much relief there. Add in the clubs financial limitations, and the margin for a meaningful leap looks tighter than the buzz around Banchero suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Isaac Still Gives The Magic One Thing They Desperately Need
Jonathan Isaacs career has been defined as much by injury interruptions as by the stretches when Orlando has been able to see what he can do on the floor. Even with the offensive limitations that have followed him, he still brings something the Magic have lacked at times in recent seasons - a real defensive presence, the kind that shows up in the numbers whenever he is healthy enough to play.
Orlando brought him back on a minimum deal after waiving him to reduce salary, a move that kept the door open for a return without much financial risk. Now he heads into this season competing for minutes in a new role, and the question is whether the Magic can keep tapping into the part of his game they need most while working around the rest. [Read more 🡒]