The Orlando Magic are unlikely to reach a contract extension with Anthony Black before the deadline, potentially sending the rising guard toward restricted free agency next summer.
The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer and Marc Stein cited concerns about the franchise’s growing long-term financial commitments after Orlando secured its core players on lucrative contracts.
Black, 22, is entering the final season of his four-year, $33 million rookie-scale contract. Unless negotiations change over the next week-plus, he could enter restricted free agency in 2027, giving the Magic an opportunity to match any qualifying offer from another team.
The potential delay comes after Black established himself as an increasingly important part of Orlando’s rotation.
The sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft averaged career highs of 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 64 games during the 2025-26 season. He also recorded 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.7% from the field.
Black’s role grew substantially in his third season. After averaging 4.6 points in 16.9 minutes as a rookie, he increased his production to 9.4 points in 2024-25 before reaching 15.0 points in 29.8 minutes per game last season.
He started 40 of his 64 appearances in 2025-26, demonstrating that he can contribute beyond a reserve role. His development gives Orlando another young guard to complement Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs.
[td_flex_block_1 category_id="" custom_title="MORE FOR YOU" header_color="#e91e63" td_filter_default_txt="" tag_slug="" sort="random_7_day" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0IjoiMjUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJtYXJnaW4tbGVmdCI6IjI1IiwicGFkZGluZy10b3AiOiIxMSIsInBhZGRpbmctcmlnaHQiOiIyNSIsInBhZGRpbmctYm90dG9tIjoiMTEiLCJwYWRkaW5nLWxlZnQiOiIyNSIsImJhY2tncm91bmQtY29sb3IiOiIjZjNmNGY2IiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiIsIi0tdGRiLXNjcm9sbC1hbmltIjoibm9uZSJ9LCJwaG9uZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tcmlnaHQiOiIwIiwibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQiOiIwIiwicGFkZGluZy1yaWdodCI6IjE1IiwicGFkZGluZy1sZWZ0IjoiMTUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBob25lX21heF93aWR0aCI6NzY3fQ==" mx3f_title_font_transform="" mx3f_title_font_weight="700" title_tag="h3" all_modules_space="0" video_popup="" image_size="td_218x150" image_height="65" image_floated="eyJwaG9uZSI6ImZsb2F0X2xlZnQifQ==" autoplay_vid="" show_vid_t="none" modules_category="image" modules_category_margin="eyJhbGwiOiI1cHgiLCJwaG9uZSI6IjVweCJ9" modules_extra_cat="hide" show_author="none" show_date="none" show_com="none" show_review="none" show_excerpt="none" show_audio="none" show_btn="none" f_title_font_size="15" f_title_font_line_height="1.25" f_title_font_weight="600" f_title_font_spacing="-0.2" cat_bg="#e16e00" modules_divider="solid" category_ids="-4430,-5489,-11" show_cat="" modules_on_row="eyJhbGwiOiIzMy4zMzMzMzMzMyUiLCJwaG9uZSI6IjEwMCUifQ==" limit="3" meta_info_align="" modules_divider_color="#333333" image_width="eyJhbGwiOiIxMDAiLCJwaG9uZSI6IjQwIn0=" meta_info_border_color="" modules_border_color="" modules_gap="15" m_padding="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjE1cHggMHB4IDE1cHggMHB4In0=" art_title="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjBweCAwcHggMHB4IDE1cHgifQ==" video_icon="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjIwIn0=" f_cat_font_size="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjgifQ=="]Black’s three-point shooting remains an area to monitor. He made 33.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc last season, down from 39.4% as a rookie. His overall offensive growth, however, has increased his importance to the team.
According to Fischer and Stein, Orlando is concerned about the long-term obligations it has already accumulated by committing significant money to Suggs, Banchero, Wagner and Bane.
The four players form the foundation of the Magic’s roster, but their contracts leave the franchise with limited financial flexibility. Orlando is reportedly only $2.5 million below the NBA’s second tax apron entering the 2026-27 season.
That situation helps explain why the Magic have taken a relatively conservative approach to spending this offseason. Their additions included Nikola Vucevic on a one-year minimum contract, alongside minimum deals for Jevon Carter and Jonathan Isaac.
Committing additional money to Black now could further restrict Orlando’s ability to manage its payroll and maintain depth around its established core.
If no extension is reached by the deadline, Black would have an opportunity to test his market in restricted free agency next summer. The Magic would retain the right to match a qualifying offer from another team, giving them control over whether he leaves.
