The Anthony Black dunk tank

[Skybox]

Come one, come all...lob your critiques of Anthony Black and watch eyriq deflect them with amazingly creative and far-reaching explanations that defy all logic

Just kidding...but there IS plenty to discuss/debate re: AB's development, role, future, upcoming potential extension, etc and I thought there should be a thread just for them as they have a sticky tendency to slide into every thread.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

What position does he play? What was the plan for him?

[VFX]

Why are we creating a thread for Franz’ backup?

Might as well create a Caleb Houstan thread too while we are at it.

[Skybox]

Why are we creating a thread for Franz’ backup?

Might as well create a Caleb Houstan thread too while we are at it.

Caleb does not have a knight to defend his honor - he's no fun to criticize

*maybe we should assign a player to each of us to defend, by any logic necessary without limitation, regardless of our true feelings - like debate team

[Orlando Dawg]

Anthony Black still needss to make the transition from boy to man.
He might have to go see a shaman in South America for it to happen.

[AdamTheGreek]

Why are we creating a thread for Franz’ backup?

Might as well create a Caleb Houstan thread too while we are at it.

Tristan is Franz’s backup.

AB is without a doubt our backup guard who now we need to sign or trade for the man that will be his backcourt bench partner.

AB already looks stronger than he did even just 2 months ago based on what I’ve seen.
He made a big leap last season because he got stronger and was a better paint finisher.

Now it’s about continuing to grow his confidence even more in him to take more shots and getting him the right ball handling training (Phil Handy helped Suggs a lot last summer).

[RichCollab]

AB needs to be a guard to be valuable. Size at guard is his strength. Also, can guard 1 - 3.

[eyriq]

Come one, come all...lob your critiques of Anthony Black and watch eyriq deflect them with amazingly creative and far-reaching explanations that defy all logic

Just kidding...but there IS plenty to discuss/debate re: AB's development, role, future, upcoming potential extension, etc and I thought there should be a thread just for them as they have a sticky tendency to slide into every thread.

You are funny!

[GameOver25]

I first need to see him be able to keep his dribble alive on a consistent basis once he crosses the halfcourt line. It was annoying watching him pick up his dribble unnecessarily so many times.

[thelead]

Has shown a lot of flashes but we need to start seeing consistency. Cole also had flashes but he never developed any consistency.

He's up for an extension next summer and there are still a ton of questions around his game. With our cap situation, if he improves a lot, we'll have more tough decisions to make. If he doesn't improve a ton, do we move on and look to replace him with a low cost vet or just keep him around on a team-friendly deal as a bench defensive specialist?

That's where we are at with him.

[VFX]

Why are we creating a thread for Franz’ backup?

Might as well create a Caleb Houstan thread too while we are at it.

Tristan is Franz’s backup.

AB is without a doubt our backup guard who now we need to sign or trade for the man that will be his backcourt bench partner.

AB already looks stronger than he did even just 2 months ago based on what I’ve seen.
He made a big leap last season because he got stronger and was a better paint finisher.

Now it’s about continuing to grow his confidence even more in him to take more shots and getting him the right ball handling training (Phil Handy helped Suggs a lot last summer).

Sounds promising! Hopefully he develops a lot this offseason until he can do point guard things!

[Skybox]

This is a great opportunity for him as, assuming no other significant trades, he's the clear #3 guard, right?

I think there are still some very unconventional skillsets on ORL's roster - primarily 4 main guys that are playmakers, none of whom are really PGs - so, I think there will be a lot of staggered lineups and AB should get as many minutes and shots as he can handle. You might even say that it's on him to keep the starters out of the reserve lineup with his own strong play. It's not even clear who his backcourt partner is...if he and Jett had evolved as we hoped, it'd be clear. But, imo, AB hasn't shown he's ready to be a PG and Jett basically hasn't shown he's ready to be an NBA rotation player.

I would guess that AB's backcourt partner isn't on the team yet and that we'll get him with an MLE or draft or a (relatively) minor trade. Clayton or Jase Richardson fit with AB really well (on paper) but who knows how long a rookie takes to get his feet under themselves - if it's quickly and great, that's a real X-factor. I don't think NAW (rumored), or even Trev Queen, really is a good pairing unless he's got a lot more offensive firepower than I thought. A guy more like Monk would be a great fit, but that's probably reaching too high post-Bane trade.

In any case, AB appears to be locked in as the clear backup (whatever) guard, but I don't see how anyone could be expecting some great degree of offense from him (not impossible, but no real evidence to suggest that kind of transformation)...we shall see.

I could also see AB being valued by another team as a young NAW, KCP, Suggs-type (if not there yet). Signing NAW might even signal that AB is on the trade block for a frontcourt upgrade.

[RookieStar]

AB.. like TDS... really needs to get stronger.

Those dudes are getting bumped around.

[Rainwater]

Has shown a lot of flashes but we need to start seeing consistency. Cole also had flashes but he never developed any consistency.

He's up for an extension next summer and there are still a ton of questions around his game. With our cap situation, if he improves a lot, we'll have more tough decisions to make. If he doesn't improve a ton, do we move on and look to replace him with a low cost vet or just keep him around on a team-friendly deal as a bench defensive specialist?

That's where we are at with him.

Yeah, completely agree. He shows flashes but he needs to be consistent.

[anothermagicfan]

Hot topic basically since he was drafted. I think we can all agree that he defensively is pretty good and can guard 1-3. The conversation always circles around is he a pg, a combo guard or a 3. With a couple years of action it's a good time for a poll to see if there's a consensus amongst the magic board. What position is Anthony Black?

[fendilim]

Ab is a jack of all trades, master of none.

And this will be to his demise if he doesn’t develop an elite skill soon.

He also needs to learn to shoot.

What’s nice is he is confident and willing. He has hit clutch 3 pointers and plays with an edge.

[RookieStar]

Well... if he gets swole there is always a future for him like MCW

[OrlandoNed]

Why are we making a thread on a poor man's Elfrid Payton?

Seriously, he's not even close to the playmaker Payton was despite his faults.

Skillwise, Black is closer to a PF to a PG.

[bigdogdylan5]

AB.. like TDS... really needs to get stronger.

Those dudes are getting bumped around.

And guess what the sky is blue. Like 95% of all rookies or players 21 and under need to bulk up and will get pushed around by 25-30 year olds… I know TDS is older but still a rookie. Just give them time.

[RookieStar]

Eyriq making notes and tearing his hair reading this thread..