NBA: Grizzlies Trade Desmond Bane Away To Magic For Cole Anthony, KCP And Picks

Last Updated:June 16, 2025, 19:11 IST

The Orlando Magic traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four first-round picks to Memphis for Desmond Bane, who averaged 19.2 points and 39% from three.

Desmond Bane joins the Orlando Magic now (AFP)

The Orlando Magic aimed to enhance their scoring and shooting capabilities this summer, and Desmond Bane emerged as their solution.

The first major move of the NBA summer occurred even before the official start, as Bane joined the Magic.

On Sunday, the Magic acquired Bane from Memphis in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four first-round draft picks – one in 2024, another in 2026, and additional picks in 2028 and 2030.

The deal also included an option for a pick swap in 2029.

Despite making the playoffs for the past two seasons, the Magic were eliminated in the first round both times and needed improved shooting to complement star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Bane, who averaged 19.2 points this season for the Grizzlies and made 39% of his shots from beyond the arc, is expected to bolster the Magic on both ends.

Bane brings a level of perimeter ignitability that the Magic have long lacked. His career-best in 3-pointers is eight in a game, a feat not achieved by any Magic player in over four years.

For the Magic, who are aiming to become serious contenders in the Eastern Conference, Bane’s 3-point shooting is crucial. This season, Orlando was last in the NBA in both 3-pointers per game (11.2) and 3-point percentage (.318), and 28th in scoring (105.4), just ahead of Brooklyn and Charlotte (both 105.1).

While the Magic’s success has largely been attributed to their defence, Bane will also contribute on that end, having averaged 1.2 steals per game this season.

Memphis’s decision to restructure is not surprising, following a season where the Grizzlies dismissed coach Taylor Jenkins late in the year and were subsequently swept by Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs.

Caldwell-Pope, a two-time NBA champion with titles from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and Denver in 2023, started more games than any other Magic player this season. He was in the starting lineup 77 times, averaging 8.7 points on 44% shooting.

Anthony, in his fifth professional season, all with Orlando, averaged 9.4 points. His tenure with the Magic was marked by inconsistency, with varying roles that saw him either start or be out of the rotation entirely.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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News sports NBA: Grizzlies Trade Desmond Bane Away To Magic For Cole Anthony, KCP And Picks