In his latest post at The Stein Line, veteran reporter Marc Stein indicated that Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black may not get an extension today, but that doesn’t mean his days with the team are numbered.
“As The Stein Line first reported last Sunday, however, Orlando’s Anthony Black is not expected to join [the group of players on rookie contracts who are eligible for an extension] after scant discussion between the sides to this point. The Magic remain big fans of the 22-year-old and don’t want to trade him, league sources say, but Orlando also knows that its payroll can’t withstand another pricey long-term deal with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane all on long-term pacts and each of them making between $32.4 million (Suggs) and $41.8 million (Wagner) this season.”
That, of course, means that some other Magic player could potentially be on the move between now and February.
If Orlando wants to have any flexibility while eventually signing Black to a longer-term deal, one of the aforementioned veterans may have to be traded.
And a slow start to the season could accelerate that timeline.