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The Orlando Magic aimed to enhance their scoring and shooting capabilities this summer, and they found their solution in Desmond Bane. The first major move of the NBA offseason has materialized even before it officially commences.
On Sunday, the Magic officially secured Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade that sends Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four first-round draft picks to Memphis — one in this year’s draft, another in 2026, and additional picks in 2028 and 2030, along with the potential for a pick swap in 2029. This development was reported by multiple sources on Sunday afternoon.
**Magic Receive:**
– Desmond Bane
**Grizzlies Receive:**
– Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
– Cole Anthony
– Multiple future first-round draft picks
The first-round pick in 2026 comes with swap rights from either Phoenix or Washington.
“We are extremely excited to bring Desmond into the Orlando Magic family,” stated Jeff Weltman, president of basketball operations. “Throughout his five-year career in the NBA, Desmond has proven himself as one of the premier guards in the league, and we anticipate his shooting ability, basketball intelligence, and diverse skill set will contribute significantly to our team’s progress.”
During the last season with the Grizzlies, Bane averaged 19.2 points and achieved a 39% success rate from beyond the arc. His addition marks a significant enhancement for the Magic, who have reached the playoffs for the past two seasons, although they experienced first-round exits each time. The team is keen on augmenting its perimeter shooting to support All-Star forward Paolo Banchero and fellow forward Franz Wagner.
“Desmond is highly regarded for his character throughout the league, and we are confident that he will integrate smoothly with our current roster both on and off the court,” explained Weltman.
Bane brings a spark to the Magic that has been absent from their perimeter game for some time. He has scored 30 points or more in 29 games, hitting the 40-point mark twice, with a personal best of eight three-pointers in a single match — a feat that no Magic player has achieved in over four years.
For a Magic franchise looking to establish itself as a serious Eastern Conference contender, his three-point shooting is crucial.
Last season, Orlando ranked last in the NBA in three-point shooting with an average of 11.2 attempts per game and a percentage of just .318. They were also 28th in overall scoring, averaging 105.4 points, narrowly ahead of Brooklyn and Charlotte, who both averaged 105.1 points.
The Magic primarily relied on defense to win games, and Bane is expected to bolster that area, averaging 1.2 steals per game this past season.
Bane was Memphis’ top performer from the three-point line this season and the team’s third-leading scorer, trailing only Ja Morant (23.2 points in 50 games) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (22.2 points in 74 games). With a career free-throw shooting percentage of 88%, he will certainly enhance an Orlando squad that was only average in that category last season, finishing 19th out of 30 teams at 77.5%.
It’s no surprise that Memphis is making changes, particularly after a disappointing season that saw the Grizzlies part ways with coach Taylor Jenkins later in the year and exit the playoffs in the first round, being swept by Oklahoma City.
Following the season, Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman commented, “It was a disappointing season, and there’s much to sort out. We achieved 48 wins, good enough for an 8 seed, but it’s simply not up to our standards.”
Caldwell-Pope, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and the Denver Nuggets in 2023, emerged as the Magic’s most frequent starter this season, participating in the initial lineup 77 times while averaging 8.7 points and shooting 44%.
Anthony, in his fifth season — all with Orlando — averaged 9.4 points. His tenure with the team has been inconsistent, featuring moments of starting play and periods of being entirely out of the rotation.
This report incorporates information from The Associated Press.
