NBA Insider Chimes in on Anthony Black's Future

The 2026-27 NBA season is coming up quickly, and it seems like the Orlando Magic’s offseason moves are mostly complete. However, there is still one pressing issue they need to address: Anthony Black’s future.

Last season, Black took a tremendous jump on the offensive end that demonstrated his upward trajectory and growing worth, and had it not been for him, Orlando’s bench would have struggled much more. As the season nears, NBA Insider Jake Fischer highlighted the need for the Magic to find a way to extend Black.

In the latest episode of "NBA Insider Notebook with Jake Fischer," Fischer briefly discussed extension-eligible players from the 2023 NBA Draft class, which Black was a part of. Fischer pointed to Orlando needing to find a way to afford both Black and Suggs, and he did express optimism that a deal will be reached.

Black is set to play the upcoming season on a $10.1 million club option, which was exercised by the Magic in October 2025, according to Spotrac. Unless a deal is reached, Black is set for restricted free agency.

Last season was Black’s third year in the NBA, and he appeared in 64 games while making 40 starts. Under the guidance of former Magic assistant God Shammgod, Black's handles improved, as did his ability to create his own shot. His scoring average improved to 15 points per game, and he logged a career-high 38 points in a 127-126 win over the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 27.

Shammgod has since moved on with Jamahl Mosley to the New Orleans Pelicans, so it will be on Black to take what he was taught and continue improving. He has the tools to be an integral piece of the Magic’s future, but he cannot regress in a year where extension talks are going to ramp up, which I recently talked about on a recent episode of the Full Court Magic Podcast.

Given his role and level of play, it is not realistic to think Black will receive the type of money others from his draft class have earned. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson was the latest from the draft class to receive an extension, which was a rookie-scale deal to the tune of $208 million.

Black will not receive that kind of money, partially because Orlando cannot provide it. But if the two sides can reach a deal that is beneficial for both, and if it can be done sooner rather than later, it will be good for both parties.