The unpredictability of the NBA never ceases. On what might have seemed like a quiet off-day during the Finals, news broke on Father`s Day: the Memphis Grizzlies are trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. In return, Memphis receives a substantial package: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round draft selections, and an additional first-round pick swap.
This is, by all accounts, an enormous return for the Grizzlies. Reports indicate they acquire Orlando`s picks in 2025, 2028, and 2030, along with Phoenix`s 2026 pick. The Phoenix pick could become quite valuable if the Suns` situation deteriorates following an eventual Kevin Durant trade.
Orlando gains a very skilled player in Bane. However, questions arise regarding his specific impact on their team and whether this was truly the opportune moment for such a significant, all-in commitment. There are numerous points to consider about this trade and its potential ramifications, not just for the involved franchises but for the broader league`s trade market dynamics.
Memphis`s Strategic Gain
Desmond Bane is a high-level guard, close to All-Star caliber even if not officially recognized as one yet (though this could change in the East). However, the return package Memphis received is comparable to one for a superstar. This deal achieves two primary objectives for Memphis, with a third possibility of a complete roster overhaul not entirely off the table.
1. Restructuring the Core: The modern NBA trend often moves away from top-heavy “Big 3” rosters, particularly when costs escalate. The Grizzlies needed to address the financial future of their talented trio: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Bane, especially with Jackson Jr.`s contract renegotiation approaching. Bane`s departure allows Memphis to focus on negotiating Jackson Jr.`s future salary. As ESPN`s Bobby Marks noted, Memphis needs to reduce overall team salary to facilitate renegotiating Jackson`s 2025 salary to a higher base for his extension. Jackson Jr. missed out on a potential supermax by not making All-NBA this season, complicating the process. Now, Memphis hopes he accepts long-term security at a potentially lower annual value than he might command in free agency next summer. The Grizzlies now have flexibility to create salary space by trading players like Jon Konchar or potentially flipping Caldwell-Pope or Anthony to teams that can absorb salary without sending much back. The significant draft capital can be used to incentivize such deals.
Essentially, Memphis aims to retain Jackson, while Morant is under contract through 2028 and eligible for an extension through 2030 this summer. This situation remains fluid, and the Bane trade actually added immediate salary, but it clearly outlines a strategy to move away from a top-heavy structure towards a more balanced and flexible roster.
2. Enhanced Depth: Many successful NBA teams currently competing for championships possess significant depth. While Memphis was already a deep team, maintaining that depth would be challenging once Jaren Jackson Jr.`s current team-friendly contract concludes. Furthermore, there`s a distinction between merely having many players and possessing true, high-quality depth extending beyond the top seven or eight players in a playoff rotation.
The Grizzlies leaned more towards volume depth previously. If they choose not to trade KCP or Anthony, they`ve acquired two legitimate playoff rotation players in exchange for Bane. KCP, for instance, offers similar skills to Bane, excelling as a defender and a catch-and-shoot threat from three, though he doesn`t match Bane`s overall scoring prowess. Memphis appears to be betting that Morant and Jackson Jr. provide sufficient top-tier scoring, and they now have ample assets to build a deeper roster around them.
This move appears strategically sound. The future draft picks offer valuable options: they can acquire cost-controlled young talent crucial in the new second-apron salary cap environment, or they can leverage these picks in future trades. Ultimately, from most perspectives, this trade was a sensible decision. Bane is a very good player, but acquiring four first-round picks plus two capable rotation players represents an almost unbelievably impressive return.
3. Potential Total Rebuild: It`s worth considering the possibility that the Grizzlies might opt for a complete teardown, potentially trading Morant and Jackson Jr. as well. Morant is eligible for an extension, and questions exist regarding his long-term viability as a team`s primary star, considering both on-court performance and off-court issues. Jackson Jr.`s contract situation, as discussed, could become complicated if he seeks a team with max salary space that can offer him more in 2026 (for example, the Lakers might have this space if LeBron James departs). Perhaps Memphis isn`t fully convinced in the Jackson-Morant duo as a championship core and is initiating a larger strategic shift with the Bane trade. Things in Memphis might not be settled yet.
Orlando`s “Mikal Bridges” Moment
When the New York Knicks traded five first-round picks and two swaps for Mikal Bridges, it seemed excessive in isolation for a player who hadn`t been an All-Star. However, the Knicks made that move within the context of *their* specific team needs, not based on a general market value for Bridges. That trade ultimately helped them reach the conference finals.
Orlando seems to be making a similar wager with Bane. While Bane`s value isn`t typically four first-round picks (Luka Doncic famously only required one pick for his draft rights!), for the Magic specifically, he represents the much-needed offensive spark for a team already boasting an elite defense.
However, a key difference exists between the Knicks` move for Bridges and Orlando`s significant investment in Bane: the Knicks had Jalen Brunson, meaning Bridges wasn`t burdened with the primary perimeter creation role he had in Brooklyn. Bane would fit perfectly alongside a top-tier offensive initiator, much like he did with Morant. But if he`s expected to be the main guard responsible for both scoring and creating, it might be asking too much.
It`s not that Bane cannot create; he averaged over five assists per game in the last two seasons. However, he`s more suited as a secondary creator. Orlando still appears to lack a traditional primary playmaker, and this trade, making them a second-apron team next year, consumes the assets that might have been used to acquire one.
So, why make this move? It can be viewed through two lenses. First, the Magic might be banking on Franz Wagner, a unique 6-foot-11 playmaker, and Paolo Banchero serving as de facto point guards (roles they are comfortable with). With Bane, plus the returning Jalen Suggs and developing Anthony Black, they might believe they have sufficient aggregate creation ability. They might be right.
Which leads to the second justification for the trade…
The Wide Open Eastern Conference
Let`s be clear: If the Magic were in the Western Conference, this trade likely wouldn`t happen. But in the East? The simple truth is that you don`t need to be quite as dominant to genuinely contend. It`s understandable that Orlando`s front office looked at a team like the Pacers, who entered the playoffs with 80-1 title odds and reached the Finals, and convinced themselves that a player like Bane could be the piece that sparks a similar deep run.
After all, they possess an elite defense, and Bane undeniably significantly improves their offense. They were a relevant playoff team recently. The Cavaliers have shown vulnerability. The Celtics might manage their load next season. Other traditional powers like the Bucks, Heat, and Sixers face significant challenges or appear less formidable than before. Teams like Detroit are improving but aren`t yet elite threats. Even the Knicks, while strong, had a challenging playoff path that could have gone differently.
If teams like Indiana, New York, and Cleveland represent the likely top tier in the East next season, Orlando clearly believes Bane elevates them close enough to that standard to justify this aggressive trade. Again, one could argue they are mistaken. But few predicted the Pacers reaching the Finals either. The dynamics of the Eastern Conference often make possible outcomes that seem far less likely in the competitive West.
Jasper Hawthorne