Magic Could Trade Cole Anthony 'Before The Season,' Says Agent

Cole Anthony, 23, averaged 13 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists mostly in a reserve role last season, but he proved himself to still play a key role for the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 22, 2023

In this story:

Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic will soon be tasked with a decision regarding Cole Anthony's future.

The fourth-year pro is expected to be a restricted free agent this offseason and has to navigate a crowded backcourt with Markelle Fultz (who is also seeking an extension), No. 6 overall pick Anthony Black, and Jalen Suggs, among others.

This could mean a trade may be in the cards.

"I think they move Anthony, maybe even before the season. But I don't think they extend him," one player agent told Bleacher Report.

Anthony, 23, averaged 13 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists mostly in a reserve role last season, but he proved himself to still play a key role for the Magic. It remains to be seen how much the other players will pierce into Anthony's role this season.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony being guarded by New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The other players in the backcourt will likely have a huge effect on whether or not Anthony stays with the Magic beyond the season. If Fultz takes another step towards becoming a franchise point guard, it may hurt Anthony's chances for an extension. The same can be said for Black, who played point guard in college but has the size to play alongside Anthony in some lineups.

Fultz and Black have more long-term upside than Anthony, but there are also concerns surrounding both of them, which is why the former North Carolina Tar Heel could still be around for the long run in Orlando.

Anthony has been a model teammate for the Magic, and he's beloved by many in the organization. Trading him isn't going to be an easy decision if it comes about.

Published Sep 22, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.