Last season, the Orlando Magic improved to 47 wins to continue a streak of increased wins for a season that dates back to 2020-21. Part of the reason for that continued assent was depth for the Magic and the contribution Anthony Black made as a 6th overall pick out of Arkansas can’t be denied.

When a team’s guards are physical players as Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony as the corps of its perimeter defensive identity, to have the depth to let them rest and heal when injuries are inevitably sustained in an 82-game marathon of an NBA season is essential to survive and advance to the postseason. That’s the importance of Black’s role as a rookie last year. Not only did he start 33 games he played in 69 of them averaging nearly 17 minutes a game and 11 minutes per game in the postseason.

When asked how he thought his role might expand in the coming season, Black showed his enthusiasm for training camp approaching. “I’m just ready for camp to come. I’m ready to compete in camp. . . we’re a good team. We lost a couple of players and a couple of players came back. It will definitely be a thing for all of us to figure out our roles going forward.”

While the arrival of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope seems to prevent Black’s role from expanding on paper, Orlando parting with veterans Markelle Fultz and Joe Ingles pushes the door open for black to increase his minutes and contribution. While the Magic will miss Ingles’ clutch three-point shooting and Fultz’s locker room presence, Black seems capable of meshing the contribution of these two players on the court. He scored more from beyond the arc than Fultz, and Black could match his defensive energy. Also, While Ingles is more productive from three, Black at age 24 is far more explosive on defense than 36-year-old Ingles.

The opportunity to develop a future impact contributor is here for head coach Jamahl Mosley and the Orlando coaching staff.