The Orlando Magic might be willing to break up their core and let one of their highest-paid players leave rather than let Anthony Black walk.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, team and league sources have pushed back on the idea that Black would be the odd man out and indicated that breaking up the rest of the core is very much on the table if the Magic fall short of expectations once again.
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“It’s now or never for these Orlando Magic. With a payroll like this (just $2.5 million below the dreaded second apron threshold), and a playoff track record that hardly justifies the exorbitant cost (three consecutive first-round losses), tough roster choices are coming for the team’s president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman. Especially if history repeats itself — or even worse — this time around.”
“All of which has rival executives wondering if Anthony Black might eventually be available.”
“The 22-year-old guard didn’t come to terms with the Magic on an extension during the summer, and is now on track to be a restricted free agent next offseason. And considering the massive deals already on Orlando’s books, with Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs all making north of $30 million annually on long-term deals, the confusion about how Black’s payday might fit in has heightened the curiosity among his admirers.”
Yet team and league sources with knowledge of the Magic’s thinking pushed back on the idea that Black might ultimately be the odd man out. Depending on what happens from here, the notion of Orlando breaking up its core (outside of Black) if the Magic fall short of expectations again is clearly in play.”
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“As for Black, the Magic made their strong interest in him clear during the negotiations in the summer but ultimately couldn’t reach a deal. The internal focus now — from the front office to first-year coach Sean Sweeney on down — is on making the most of this current roster and taking it from there.”
“As it stands, the injury-riddled Magic are just 4-7 with a net rating of minus-5.0 that is 21st in the league. Black, who stepped into Suggs’ starting role after he went down with a right knee bone bruise on Oct. 25, is on a career-high pace in scoring (17.8 per game), rebounds (six per), assists (5.5) and minutes (31.5) in eight games played.”
The Magic are 4-7 with a minus-5.0 net rating, and they have lost in the first round in the last three years. Last season’s exit was very costly, as the Magic blew a 3-1 series lead against the Detroit Pistons, then replaced Jamahl Mosley with Sean Sweeney.
Injuries to Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs have made it very hard to judge if Sweeney can get the most out of this group. But another early exit, or missing the playoffs entirely, would force president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman to ask whether a healthy version of the same roster is worth keeping together at this enormous price.
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The Magic are roughly just $2.5 million below the second apron this season. Banchero’s extension has already kicked in, and the Magic have already committed $161.2 million to him, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs for the 2027-28 season, in addition to the $19.6 million owed to Wendell Carter Jr.
They’re above $180 million for five players before even thinking about Black’s next deal.
Anthony Black is making that decision harder in probably the best way possible. The 22-year-old has stepped into the starting role after Suggs went down, and the move has worked out well so far. He is currently averaging 17.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 31.5 minutes through eight appearances.
The Magic did not reach an extension with him, so he’s on track for restricted free agency next summer. The Magic can retain matching rights by extending a qualifying offer, but every good month for Black gives another team more reason to make an offer that Orlando will have a very hard time matching.
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If I’m Jeff Weltman, I’d start with the backcourt. Suggs and Black can play together, but Black’s emergence gives the Magic a reason to ask whether they need both as long-term starters. Bane also has a higher salary, but moving him would cost the Magic the shooting that they brought him in to provide.
Carter offers a smaller deal. Trading him could save money, but the Magic would still have to replace a starting center, which is not going to be cheap in this market. Moving Banchero or Wagner would be a much bigger bet on which forward can carry the franchise.
There is no reason to even think about breaking up the core or making that bet after 11 games. We should see what this group looks like when they’re healthy. But if the Magic fail to make the playoffs or are out of the first round yet again, they’ll have four years of evidence and a bigger bill coming.
And at that point, keeping Black and moving an established starter might be easier to justify than bringing everyone back to run it back.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
