The Orlando Magic are a rival team the Golden State Warriors should be closely monitoring not just before the season, but beforehand as they undertake contract extension talks with young guard Anthony Black.
Black could seek between $23-25 million annually on his extension, putting an already rising Magic payroll under further pressure that the Warriors could capitalize on in a trade or via free agency next year.
Warriors have multiple reasons to monitor Anthony Black's situation
Discussing potential trade targets on the latest episode of the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, The Athletic's Marcus Thompson identified Orlando as a team Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office should have an eye on.
..."You're watching Orlando very closely, right? Like what happens, do they, do they fall off the wagon here? Like it becomes untenable because now you know, you're about to have to start paying people, right?" Thompson said.
Black is coming off a breakout year where he averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals in nearly 30 minutes per game. If the Magic don't come to terms on an extension with the 22-year-old, he's the type of young player Golden State could look at in restricted free agency with the cap space they're projected to have next summer.
On the other hand, a sizeable new deal for Black could come at the cost of one of their current core four, and most likely Jalen Suggs who, alongside Desmond Bane, is keeping Black from a starting role in a healthy Magic lineup.
Warriors hoping for Magic downfall once season gets underway
Suggs would be an interesting backcourt partner for Stephen Curry, offering some size and defense while possessing secondary ball-handling and playmaking attributes. He averaged 13.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season, but comes with obvious risk after playing just 92 games over the past two years while still having four years and $115.5 million left on his contract.
The Warriors might have their sights set higher than Suggs anyway, with the franchise reportedly holding some level of interest in both Magic stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints in July.
It would take something fairly drastic for Orlando to consider such a move, but it's not completely out of the realms of possibility given the Magic finished only eighth in the Eastern Conference last season, leading to the franchise replacing Jahmahl Mosley with first time head coach Sean Sweeney.
Armed with expiring contracts and draft capital, the Warriors will be prepared for a blockbuster trade if the Magic make a slow start to the season and decide they need to alter their roster in a significant way.
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