2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Arkansas guards, SEC prominent in lottery

Orlando is loaded with young talent across the board, but there’s a vast disparity between the talent in the frontcourt and the talent in the backcourt. Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, and Cole Anthony are all NBA players — even good NBA players — but the real building blocks for that team are Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

So, with little room to bolster the frontcourt rotation, the Magic instead focus on elevating the backcourt. Anthony Black is the perfect player to do so — and he’s the exact type of player every NBA team is salivating over these days.

A jumbo-sized playmaker who can oscillate between guard and wing, Black would provide the Magic will more connective tissue on the offensive end. There are valid concerns about his inconsistency beyond the arc, but Black’s quick processing speeds, playmaking acumen, and deeply unselfish approach should elevate those around him on a nightly basis. He can run pick-and-rolls and push the tempo in transition, but he’s not a guard who needs to dominate possessions to impact winning. A good thing, considering how often the ball should be in the hands of Banchero or Wagner moving forward.

It’s easy to draw parallels between Black and other recently coveted lottery picks, such as Lonzo Ball or Dyson Daniels. He’s a versatile and impactful team defender and master of small things. What he may lack in flash or individual scoring prowess, Black makes up for with intelligence and hustle.