UNC Basketball: Cole Anthony signs extension with Orlando Magic

Prior to the start of the NBA season, former UNC basketball standout Cole Anthony has landed a contract extension with the Orlando Magic.

Heading into the final year of his contract, former UNC basketball player Cole Anthony and the Orlando Magic were faced with a deadline.

If an extension weren’t reached by the end of the day on Monday, October 23, Anthony would have to head into the offseason as a restricted free agent. This was the case for all first-rounders of the 2020 NBA Draft, as players around the league are in last-minute discussions with their respective clubs.

Fortunately, Anthony and the Magic beat the buzzer, as the two sides agreed to a contract extension.

The deal will run for three years and will be worth a total of $39 million. This agreement will keep the former Tar Heel in Orlando through the 2026-2027 season.

Anthony’s future in Orlando was in question, given his expiring contract as well as the organization’s depth at the guard position. However, it appears that Anthony is still very much in the Magic’s future plans, as they’ve officially locked him up for the foreseeable future.

Through his first three seasons in the NBA, Anthony has appeared in 172 total games. He has career averages of 14.2 points, five rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, as more than half of his games played have come as a member of the starting lineup.

Although he might not start (similar to last year), Anthony is still a player who should play around 25-30 minutes per game. Now that his contract situation is settled, Anthony will look to continue to be an important piece of an Orlando Magic team that aims for a ton of success during the 2023-2024 season.

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