Grizzlies Trade Desmond Bane to Magic for Four First-Round Picks and Two Players
The Memphis Grizzlies have made a bold move in the NBA trade market, sending Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and several draft picks. The deal was first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania and was officially confirmed by the Magic on Sunday afternoon. In addition to the players, the Grizzlies will receive four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap. Memphis will get the No. 16 selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, a 2026 first-rounder (originally belonging to the Phoenix Suns), and unprotected first-round picks in 2028 and 2030. The pick swap is for 2029 and will be lightly protected. The Magic now have a new-look roster with Bane joining Paolo Banchero (25.9 ppg) and Franz Wagner (24.2 ppg), both of whom missed significant time with oblique injuries. Jalen Suggs (16.2 ppg) also missed the final three months of the season with a left knee injury. Bane, who turns 26 on June 25, has averaged 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 41% on 3-pointers during his NBA career. Bane is signed for another four seasons with a five-year, $207 million extension he signed before the 2023-24 campaign, making him a key part of the Magic's core for multiple seasons. The Magic now have a potential core in place to help them make an upward move in the Eastern Conference, which will have some uncertainty next season due to injuries and salary cap concerns for other teams like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 32, moves to the sixth team of his 12-year NBA career, joining the Magic as a free agent last season. He scored 8.7 points per game and shot 34.2% on 3s, having won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. Cole Anthony, 25, was Orlando's 2020 first-round pick (No. 15 overall) and averaged 9.8 points per game, shooting 35% from long range. Bane appears to be happy about the trade, judging from his post on social media. At the very least, he's excited about the Florida weather. The trade gives the Magic a boost in their quest to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference and potentially compete for a playoff spot next season. With Bane's addition to the Magic's roster, the team now has a strong core that can help them compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The trade also gives them several draft picks that can be used to further strengthen their team in the future. The Magic will have to navigate through injuries and salary cap concerns next season, but with Bane and his contract extension, they have a solid foundation to build on.
