Magic Acquire Desmond Bane From Grizzlies For Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, Four First Round Picks

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Orlando Magic have agreed to acquire Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a first-round pick swap. This deal will likely be completed prior to the league year changing over on July 1, due to tax apron issues for Orlando.

The picks the Magic are sending the Grizzlies are the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns 2026 first-round pick, Orlando's 2028 first-round pick and Orlando's 2030 first-round pick. The Magic will also send the Grizzlies a light-protected first-round pick swap in 2029.

The Magic were looking for shooting and scoring to help open the floor for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Bane averaged 19.2 points per game last season and has career shooting splits of 47/41/88. He's also a rugged defender and solid passer.

The Grizzlies will clear some long-term payroll with this trade. That's important, given the team has key free agents upcoming in Santi Aldama this summer and Jaren Jackson Jr. as soon as next offseason. Memphis could also clear some cap space to renegotiate-and-extend Jackson this offseason. Caldwell-Pope and Anthony will give Memphis affordable backcourt depth around star guard Ja Morant.

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

[Bolsolixo]

This one is awful on Magic side

[pushfloater]

This one is awful on Magic side

Agreed. Should’ve got a better player for all that.. I mean he’s a sniper, but two solid players and four 1st round picks

[BigHustle]

Massive overpay sheesh.

[MegaJ]

Low IQ NBA fans won’t immediately grasp that the Mikal Bridges/Rudy Gobert trades continues to set the market for mid type stars. They’ll also ignore that this was a very smart consolidation of assets to optimize their roster further with the type of shooter they’ve needed. Orlando will never land a big FA fish in today’s NBA, so they’re smartly building around their top pick. And he’s on their timeline. In a now wide open east?? The Magic are for real now. Nick Anderson 2.0 except he’s not… JK

[AdamSSSlither]

this deal is three 1st rd picks too many.

[TimeisIllmatic]

Bane is not a bad player by any means but this seems like the type of trade to make if you're super close to being a championship contender.

[beefman]

This one is awful on Magic side

Agreed. Should’ve got a better player for all that.. I mean he’s a sniper, but two solid players and four 1st round picks

this is the market rate.

[JKiddy]

We have Lakers fans saying Claxton is worth 1 protected 1st!

The market just changed that thought REAL QUICK.

[M2J]

Bane is not a bad player by any means but this seems like the type of trade to make if you're super close to being a championship contender.

I don't hate it. He's young and fits their timeline for years. I love Bane as a player and he fits their needs. They got rid of kcp contract and Cole isn't overly important.... Their big 4 though is tough and the East is positioning itself for a wide open year where Boston and Milwaukee are out of the way

[pushfloater]

This one is awful on Magic side

Agreed. Should’ve got a better player for all that.. I mean he’s a sniper, but two solid players and four 1st round picks

this is the market rate.

I guess so, but I still don’t know if they can make it out of the 1st round…

[njknicks]

Paolo / Wagner / Bane …. Three 20+ppg scorers & 1 ball …. Should have gone for a pg instead to pair with Suggs once healthy but will be interesting to see how this one pans out

[Dino353]

Paolo / Wagner / Bane …. Three 20+ppg scorers & 1 ball …. Should have gone for a pg instead to pair with Suggs once healthy but will be interesting to see how this one pans out

Did you not watch them in the playoffs? They clearly lacked a shot creator/play-maker, Bane covers both

[Bentley1225]

Why not just trade for Beal?

[njknicks]

Paolo / Wagner / Bane …. Three 20+ppg scorers & 1 ball …. Should have gone for a pg instead to pair with Suggs once healthy but will be interesting to see how this one pans out

Did you not watch them in the playoffs? They clearly lacked a shot creator/play-maker, Bane covers both

Watched the playoffs -- Bane exceeds what they lack -- the issue is the lack of touches for their "big 3"

Wagner / Banchero need the ball consistently & constantly to be effective, adding Bane to the mix limits their touches considerably. Jalen Suggs is not a prototypical PG, more in the Alex Caruso mold. Either this move puts them into ECF contention or it could backfire ( ala Phoenix Suns Bradley Beal trade ).

[TheCage4]

Huge haul for the Grizzlies. It would be great if they could turn those picks into a big time player, unfortunately, it’s Memphis. No one wants to play there.

[Luv those Knicks]

Massive overpay sheesh.

Looks like they took lessons from Leon Rose.


(in Leon's defense, he doesn't always overpay, just sometimes).

[Spot31]

Should've asked for Morant instead with that offer.

[41Dirk41]

Wow... And now imagine Mavs trade Luka Doncic for street clothes+ FRP and that max Christie guy... Thank you Silver.

[Blue_and_Whte]

This one is awful on Magic side

Agreed. Should’ve got a better player for all that.. I mean he’s a sniper, but two solid players and four 1st round picks

Two solid players? I mean KCP was good defensively but Cole was largely unplayable in the PO’s. I like the guy but solid player is a stretch. He’ll have the occasional good game (It’ll probably against us.) and KCP was underwhelming.
Two of the “unprotected firsts” will likely be late first round picks. So we gave them 16, two late firsts. The PHX swap is the sweetener but even then they get the least favorable pick because WAS gets to swap ahead of Memphis.I’d say it’s a slight overpay but worth it considering the need and timeline.