In a bold move that screams “we’re done waiting”, Orlando Magic President Jeff Weltman pulled off a jaw-dropping blockbuster Sunday, landing Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies.
The cost was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap.
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UcQnmHbgZb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2025
As first reported by Shams Charania, this trade might’ve upstaged the NBA Finals for a minute, and the league probably didn’t hate it.
Bane, who quietly put up 19.2 points, 6.1 boards, and 5.3 assists this past season while shooting a lethal 39.2 percent from deep, is everything Orlando’s been missing.
This is a team that finished 27th in offense. They needed spacing. They needed a secondary creator. They needed someone defenses actually care about beyond the arc.
“Desmond Bane is a perfect fit for what Orlando needs,” NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin wrote. “More than just a gunner, Bane was a secondary shot creator in Memphis.” That part matters. Bane isn’t just a 3-and-D wing, he’s a guy who can run offense, hit tough shots, and clamp up on the other end.
Pair him with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and suddenly this offense gets real interesting.
Memphis, meanwhile, gets the kind of draft haul that screams future flexibility, and possibly a full reset.
Caldwell-Pope can still defend and shoot well enough to start, Cole Anthony’s a sparkplug off the bench. But those picks, that’s the real prize.
Some are saying it is clearing the way for a massive Jaren Jackson Jr. extension this summer.
Don’t rule out a Ja Morant trade next. When you move on from your second-best player like this, anything’s on the table.
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