ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic made the first big move of the offseason Sunday morning, as they traded with the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Desmond Bane. The Magic got Bane by trading away four unprotected first round picks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and a pick swap. This move marks the first time Orlando traded for a player since moving Nikola Vučević and Aaron Gordon in 2021.
The picks involved in the trade are Orlando’s 16th overall pick in the 2025 draft, a 2026 pick swap with the Wizards and Suns, and two unprotected Magic firsts in 2028 and 2030. There is also a top-two protected pick swap in 2029 involved.
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The deal is similar to the Mikal Bridges trade last offseason, which saw the Knicks give up five first round picks and a pick swap for the wing. This move propelled New York to the Eastern Conference Finals this season.
The trade also sees the departure of a fan favorite in Anthony and not-so fan favorite in Caldwell-Pope. Both guards were streaky at best in 2024, and their combined $37.7 million owed next season equalizes the contract of Bane.
Bane is a great fit for the Magic, as his career 41% three-point shooting will help an Orlando team who shot a league-worst 31.8% from deep in 2024. His 18+ points per game over the past four seasons will provide a boost for a bottom three offense in the league.
Bane possesses the ability to be a combo guard in the Orlando offense, a skill he showed off when Ja Morant missed time last season. He has averaged over five assists in the past two years, two more than the Magic’s primary point guard Jalen Suggs during that time.
His defense is also strong, as he has averaged a steal in his past four seasons. Bane’s above average defensive play will fit nicely with Orlando, who held opponents to the lowest points per game in 2024.
This move by Orlando shows the front office’s confidence in their young core. Bane is under contract until the 2029 season, giving the Magic a four-year window to contend with the guard.
The trade puts the Magic in the first apron restrictions and close to the second apron. With the pending contract extension for Paolo Banchero, and the new deals of Franz Wagner and Suggs kicking in this year, Orlando quickly became an expensive team. This shift in ideology is large for the Magic, who have let their homegrown stars leave in free agency or traded them when up for a new contract.
Orlando was able to get the deal done without giving up any of their young talent, including Anthony Black, Jett Howard, and Tristan da Silva. The trade frees up minutes in the rotation, and their second and third year players will look to cement themselves as fixtures in the rotation.
The Magic also still have the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, which they should look to use to select another shooter or potentially another big man.
With Jayson Tatum injury, the firing of Tom Thibodeau, the looming trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the potential retooling of the Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference is up for the taking. Orlando’s new starting rotation including Bane will look to contend in the East and try to make it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2009.