Magic address needs while raising questions by drafting Anthony Black, Jett Howard
By drafting Arkansas guard Anthony Black and Michigan wing Jett Howard with the Nos. 6 and 11 picks in Thursday’s NBA draft, the Orlando Magic addressed key needs while also creating long-term questions — at least from the outside.
When it became clear the Magic were selecting Black with their first lottery pick, an obvious question is this: How will Orlando maintain pathways for each of their young guards to develop?
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Black is the third guard the Magic have drafted in the first round in the last four years.
Orlando took Jalen Suggs at No. 5 in the 2021 draft and Cole Anthony at No. 15 in 2020.
Markelle Fultz, the 2017 No. 1 pick who the Magic traded for in February 2019, has been the team’s starting point guard when healthy and is coming off his best season.
But the Magic aren’t concerned about a perceived logjam in the backcourt.
“We don’t look at positions per se in that respect,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said Thursday. “We’re getting guys who can play multiple positions that, I think, there are a host of combinations coach can go with. The more options he has, the better.”
And neither is Black.
“I feel like it’s a lot of great versatile guards,” he said. “We can all help each other out and complement each other well. Just tough guards, that’ll be good for the team.”
The Magic’s lack of concern about positional overlap is a testament to the versatility they believe Black will bring.
At 6-foot-6 with a 6-7 wingspan, Black is a jumbo-sized guard who could provide high-level playmaking and versatile defense.
Black will make the game easier for his teammates. Opponents likely will treat him as a non-shooting threat until he proves he can knock down outside shots with consistency after making 30.1% of his 3s in his lone collegiate season.
But the hope is he’ll make up for the shooting concerns with quick decision-making. He makes passes not many guards can because of his size and his processing speed.
Weltman said Black “is one of the smartest players in the draft — maybe the smartest.”
Creating easier scoring opportunities and making the game easier for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner should be a priority. Black was the best available player capable of doing so.
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“[Black] transcends positions,” Weltman said. “That’s what we’re looking for. He’s going to guard three positions. He’s going to facilitate for others. He’ll give coach a lot of options as to put different combinations on the floor that’ll suit his needs for that game.”
Howard’s fit with the Magic is easier to see.
“Honestly, I feel like I’ll fit in like a glove with my ability to space the floor and make open shots,” said Howard, who shot 36.8% on 3s in his lone season with the Wolverines.
The outside shooting will be important for a Magic team that ranked No. 24 in 3-point accuracy and No. 27 in attempts. Howard’s presence creates space for others.
But Orlando sees Howard as more than a shooter — he’s a capable ballhandler and passer, and a better defender than he showed.
The Magic, and Howard, feel he wasn’t able to fully showcase his skillset after injuring both ankles halfway through the college season.
Howard’s stats in his 18 games before injuring his left ankle in the first half of a Jan. 22 win over Minnesota: 15.4 points (44% shooting — 52.6% on 2s, 38.8% on 3s), 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32 minutes.
His stats in his final 10 games, which included him sitting two games because of a right ankle injury: 13.5 points (38.7% shooting — 47.4% on 2s, 34.6% on 3s), 3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 34 minutes.
“I was playing at 50% throughout that last stretch of the season,” Howard said. “It hindered my performance a lot from a lateral quickness standpoint, conditioning standpoint and explosive standpoint.”
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At 6-foot-8 with his shooting capabilities, Howard can play a variety of positions. But he’ll have to battle for a rotation spot.
What the Magic’s draft decisions — especially with Black — means for the long-term futures of the young guards already on the roster isn’t known.
Yahoo Sports reported ahead of the draft on Wednesday that Orlando left league personnel with the “impression that drafting a guard like Ausar [Thompson] or Black would lead the Magic to exploring trade opportunities for one of Suggs or Anthony.”
“They didn’t tell me that,” Black told Yahoo Sports Wednesday, “but that’s what I figured they’d do if they picked me.”
Each of Anthony, Fultz and Suggs have their own questions moving forward.
Anthony is entering the final season of his 4-year rookie scale contract and will be extension eligible this offseason until the season starts in October. If he and the Magic don’t agree to an extension, he could become a restricted free agent next summer.
Fultz, who’ll become extension eligible on Sept. 30, is entering the final year of a 3-year, $50 million contract he signed in December 2020. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t agree to an extension.
Suggs has only played in 101 of a possible 164 games because of injuries. The Magic have a team option for the 2024-25 season of his contract — the fourth year of his rookie deal.
Creating more competition in practices and playing time are priorities for Orlando’s development.
“Guys are going to have to come in and earn what they get,” Weltman said. “We expect to make strides this year. We expect our young players who log minutes and kind of earn their keep are going to get better and make it tough for these rookies to get on the floor. They’re going to have to earn their way on, and if they do coach will have a good problem.”
It’s clear the Magic will not only welcome those good problems — they want them and need them to take the next steps.
Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
