Should Magic Trade Anthony Black to Acquire Star?
ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic will have the chance to make a blockbuster trade this summer, but in order to do so, they may have to include last year's No. 6 overall pick Anthony Black.
Black, 20, played in 69 games for the Magic in his rookie year, averaging 4.6 points while shooting over 39 percent from distance. While he didn't score much, Black's size for a guard is conducive of the Magic's vision on defense, and he projects to be a major piece for the team someday.
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However, Bleacher Report suggests that he may have to be traded in order for the Magic to acquire a star. He was included in a potential mock deal with the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons.
"Black seems wired to set up teammates before looking for his own buckets, and that preference would play well with the Blazers' incumbent guards," Bleacher Report writes. "Meanwhile, the Magic get the backcourt scoring boost they badly need from Simons, whose career three-point hit rate of 38.6 percent would make him an ideal spacer and complementary offensive piece next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Black is a big, rangy guard who flashed good hands, energy and connective passing during his rookie season."
Simons would be a strong fit for the Magic and would help with the team's offensive woes, but would it be enough to move on from Black and his potential after just one season where he had limited action?
Black is expected to have a bigger role with the Magic in his second season as Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris enter free agency and he continues to grow as a player.
The Magic have been very conservative about making any trades, especially ones that cost young talent. It would have to take a godfather offer for the Magic to consider parting ways with Black so soon because the team has a lot of belief in what he can become and his fit with the top players on the roster.
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