The NBA season is barely a month old, and there already seems to be a lot of turmoil brewing beneath the surface around the league.
Reports are already circulating that the Sacramento Kings may be ready for a full restart. The New Orleans Pelicans have already fired Willie Green. The Memphis Grizzlies are also considering the dismissal of Ja Morant following his suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. The Dallas Mavericks could be improving after firing Nico Harrison.
It is still too early for most teams to consider any major changes. But the rumblings you’re hearing are the NBA rumor mill. Trade season isn’t far away — the league is a month away from Dec. 15, when most contracts signed in the offseason can officially be traded.
The Orlando Magic may have been one of those early, turbulent teams.
Things have calmed down, but it should be clear that Orlando will need to supplement their roster in some way at the deadline. How and how will remain the big question.
And so all eyes will be on Anthony Black’s game over the next three months.
As the Magic consider their options at the deadline, they will need to see their young guard develop into his role as a spot starter and sixth man off the bench.
The key to the Magic’s overall trade deadline strategy and what the team may be willing or able to do will hinge on Black and his development.
The simple truth is that magic often moves the same way black moves. That was the case in the 2025 season, as has been the case for the first 13 games of this season.
magic goes as black goes
One of the big gambles the Orlando Magic made this year after trading for Desmond Benn was to put a lot of responsibility on Anthony Black, especially as the team was without Mo Wagner recovering from a torn ACL.
Black is still easing into those responsibilities. But the Magic are willing to endure any growing pains that come with his development, hoping his talent will make it worth it by spring.
Entering Sunday’s game, Black is averaging a career-high 10.5 points per game. He’s shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from three, similar to last season but in higher volume (3.4 3-point attempts per game).
Black has made his mark attacking the basket this year. He finishes excellent in transition and shoots 54.8 percent on 4.8 drives per game – last year he was at 42.7 percent on 7.3 drives per game.
Black is still finding his feet. Magic teammates keep urging him to be aggressive.
It’s that aggression that Magic is trying to use more of to help him grow in his role.
In the Magic’s seven wins this season, Black is averaging 10.7 points per game, but has shot 41.7 percent in three. In their six losses, Black still averaged 10.3 points per game, but shot only 20.0 percent from three.
Last year there was a similar correlation – Black contributed 40.8 percent of the wins and 21.7 percent of the losses.
Black has greatly improved his ability to attack the basket and find different ways to score. But teams are still happy to leave him open. When he’s a consistent three-point threat, the Magic are just a different team.
And that’s what Orlando needs to see increase over the next three months. Magic can go as far as Black goes and how fast Black develops.
This can also decide the direction of their business strategy.
initial business list
If the Orlando Magic are a competitive team, they can’t sit idly by at the deadline when there is an opportunity to improve. They should focus on continuous improvement.
Orlando really still has work to do. There are still a lot of questions to answer on this roster.
The alarm bells from the team’s 1-4 start have subsided after going 6-2 and climbing above .500. They are now winning and making their identity more clearly. Players are filling roles – even with Paolo Banchero’s injury and now Jalen Suggs’ groin strain.
The Magic especially need more scoring depth, that much is clear.
Orlando entered Sunday’s game ranked 27th off the bench in scoring at 31.6 points per game. This is a far cry from where the team was in 2024 and for a good portion of the 2025 season, at least before Mo Wagner’s injury.
Health will help players carve out roles with Tristan da Silva, Anthony Black and eventually Mo Wagner giving the team some scoring punch off the bench. When this team is healthy and headed toward the playoffs, one, if not two, of the Magic’s big four players – Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Benn and Jalen Suggs – should be on the floor at all times.
A game like Sunday where Banchero and Suggs are both out could really bolster the Magic’s scoring and creation depth and reveal where the glaring weaknesses are.
Orlando is relying on its starting players and stars more than ever. The team has benefited offensively because of better scoring depth up top. Magic simply don’t know what they are getting elsewhere.
It’s easy to see why players like Dennis Schroder or Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings would be on the early trade deadline wish list as rumor mongers begin to contemplate the next transaction cycle. The Magic should consider buying out and improving at the deadline, even if the team tries to dance its way under the tax to avoid starting the repeater clock.
No move is imminent. The Magic cannot sign anyone to a minimum contract until January 9 due to their first apron hard cap.
This means the Magic have three months to figure out what they want and how close they are to the ideal version of themselves. This could mean they look to get a player like Jonathan Isaac better value for his salary ($15 million) or move away from Tyus Jones’ disappointing play.
What this really means is that the Magic need to come to a conclusion about Anthony Black. They need to see Black emerge as a consistent player.
This is the biggest determinant of what the Magic can do at the deadline and the rest of this season.
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