Anthony Black is expected to wait until next summer for a new contract, with the Magic leaning toward restricted free agency rather than pushing through a rookie scale extension before the deadline.
That is a sensible read on where Orlando are right now. The Magic already have several high-salary players on the payroll, and the club's financial picture means not every decision has to be made immediately.
Jeff Weltman made that point at media day when he said the Magic are in “a lot tighter quarters” financially than they have been in years past. He also said the organization expects Black to have a strong year, but added that deals do not always get done right now and can be completed later.
Why the Magic can wait
The timing matters here because Black is a 22-year-old guard in the middle of a roster that already carries significant money elsewhere. When a team is working around that kind of payroll, it becomes harder to rush into another long-term commitment unless the fit is obvious and the urgency is absolute.
In this case, the report suggests Orlando are comfortable letting the process play out. Black is still in position to build value, and the Magic appear content to let next season provide a clearer picture before they sit down to negotiate.
A busy market around the league
The broader backdrop also helps explain the decision. Cason Wallace accepted a five-year deal worth $139MM on Sunday night, and that deal is part of a larger picture in which rookie-scale extensions are being handled carefully across the league.
The Magic have already shown they are willing to think long term with the right players, but this is also a front office that has to weigh timing as much as talent. In that sense, Black's situation fits the club's wider financial future rather than sitting apart from it.
For now, the expectation is clear: Orlando are likely to hold off, let Black play, and revisit the conversation next summer when the restricted free agency route opens up.
