The first trade of the NBA offseason has been agreed, between the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Orlando Magic needed to make a move to strengthen around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and they have moved aggressively to bring in a third star.
The Magic gave up four picks as part of a package to acquire Desmond Bane, who will give the Magic a threat they missed from three-point range.
The price the Magic paid is currently the big talking point, with the Memphis Grizzlies gaining the maximum possible return for the 26-year-old.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Orlando Magic have acquired a top player in Desmond Bane, who immediately makes them more competitive.
But the former player cannot get his head around the steep price the Magic gave up to acquire him.
Speaking to Road Trippin’, Perkins said: “I’m all in for it. I’m all in for it. If you’re the Orlando Magic. I think it’s a hell of a pickup. When you think about what they have over there, Paolo Banchero, he’s a rising young superstar in the making.
“And you think about the spacing that Desmond Bane can provide, the shooting, not a defensive liability, so he’s going to fit the culture, but I’d be damned if I would have gave up four unprotected picks. I mean, damn.
“I don’t believe, I don’t believe they got that much for Jrue Holiday with the Boston Celtics. Like, that’s a lot of picks.
“So Desmond Bane, look, he is a great addition. I applaud the Orlando Magic for going all in right, especially with the Eastern Conference being wide open next year… It better work.”
The Orlando Magic paid up for Desmond Bane because they felt he was worth it. They needed to make a move, and acted decisively to land him before other teams made their moves.
Bane is a two-way wing who posted shooting splits of 48.4 percent from the field, 39 percent from three and 89 percent free throws, narrowly shy of the vaunted 50/40/90 benchmark.
- Orlando Magic receive: Desmond Bane
- Memphis Grizzlies receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, 2025 first-round pick (ORL, #16), 2026 first-round pick (PHX), 2028 first-round pick (ORL), 2030 first-round pick (ORL), 2029 first-round pick-swap.
Brian Windhorst explained that part of the cost was that the Magic actually had to pay in picks to offload Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who had a poor year on an expensive contract.
The Magic’s move speaks to how they sense the Eastern Conference being wide open next season, and their aggressive move puts them in a strong position for a top six finish.
