Anthony Black
Black is a defense-first guard who is coming back from a right ankle sprain that kept him out of the whole preseason, and he is questionable for Sunday against the Knicks. Current coverage is thin, so his usage once healthy is not well established.
Role
The only role detail I found is a RotoWire item dated Sep 4, 2026, which said he was lined up for a significant role leading Orlando's second unit. RotoWire's player page (undated in the result) said it is unlikely he plays more than 20 minutes per game barring injuries to others. I found no current starting-five report, minutes split or usage rate for this season. I also did not find confirmation of who competes with him for backcourt minutes. His ankle status has been unstable. CBS/RotoWire notes dated Oct 15 and 16 had him ramping up in practice but sitting out the preseason finale, with the team saying it was being cautious. A hottakes.com item from 3 days ago says he was ruled out for a Friday game with the ankle, and one from yesterday lists him questionable for Sunday. Both are aggregator posts, not beat reporting.
Optimists point to last season's breakout, when he was a regular rotation piece and sometimes a starter when Orlando's guards and wings were hurt. A RotoWire note from Sep 4 had him running the second unit. Orlando also parted with Markelle Fultz in the offseason, which RotoWire read as some faith in him. His defensive disruption and playoff steals (five in Game 7 against Detroit, per CBS/RotoWire) give him a floor that does not depend on his shooting.
Skeptics point to the ankle, which has now cost him the whole preseason and at least one regular-season game. They also point to Orlando's depth, since RotoWire says it is unlikely he plays more than 20 minutes per game unless others are injured. RotoWire also described it as unclear whether he becomes a consistent rotation player. His abdominal strain from earlier in 2026 adds to the injury worry.
Where analysts split
The split is over his ceiling in minutes once healthy. RotoWire's player page caps him around 20 minutes barring injuries, while its Sep 4 note has him leading the second unit in a significant role. Neither is dated this regular season, and I found no beat-writer piece settling it. The other open question is how soon the ankle stops limiting him, and the team has not given a timeline.
Research confidence: thin. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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