
Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Courtesy of the Orlando Magic / Desmond Bane, is a newly-acquired Orlando Magic player in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Left: Desmond Bane is a sharpshooter the Magic coveted to complement Magic stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Magic have acquired shooting guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, a 2029 top-two protected first-round pick swap, and four unprotected first-round picks, including the 16th overall selection this year.
The trade includes the Magic sending Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round draft picks, and a first-round pick swap to Memphis.
This move addresses the Magic's need for scoring and shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, as Bane is known for his offensive prowess according to NBA.com.
Here are the trade details:
The Orlando Magic get: Desmond Bane
The Memphis Grizzlies get: Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks (16th pick in 2025; unprotected 2026, 2028, and 2030), and a 2029 first-round pick swap (top two protected)
The Magic were looking for a sharpshooter to complement Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner's scoring, and Bane was the player they targeted. However, the Magic gave up two complementary players, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, who were nonetheless deemed expendable. They also traded away four first-round draft picks, including the 16th overall selection in the upcoming NBA draft.
Bane delivered another productive season during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.4 three-pointers, and 1.2 steals across 32.0 minutes per game in 69 regular-season appearances for Memphis.
A career 41 percent shooter from beyond the arc, the 26-year-old Bane is under contract through the 2028-29 campaign and will provide the Magic with much-needed outside shooting after they finished last in three-point percentage last season.
Critics have already said the Magic gave up too much valuable draft capital to get Bane. Still, Magic president Jeff Weltman said on Monday that Bane was the ideal fit for Orlando moving forward.
"The guy is almost the player you would design if you could start from scratch," Weltman said. "We've spoken a lot about our need for shooting, but we've also talked about playmaking and adding skill. Desmond is such a unique player because he is one of the best shooters in the NBA, but he is also a gifted playmaker, and he generates shot creation for himself and others."
Critics have already said the Magic gave up too much valuable draft capital to get Bane. Still, Magic president Jeff Weltman said on Monday that Bane was the ideal fit for Orlando moving forward. "The guy is almost the player you would design if you could start from scratch," Weltman said. "We've spoken a lot about our need for shooting, but we've also talked about playmaking and adding skill. Desmond is such a unique player because he is one of the best shooters in the NBA, but he is also a gifted playmaker, and he generates shot creation for himself and others."
With the 16th pick on its way to Memphis, the Magic still have the No. 25 selection (acquired in March 2021) and the 46th and 57th picks in the upcoming draft, respectively. The team has until June 25-26 to adjust its draft plan, considering losing two key backcourt players in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony.
Bane (6’6”, 215, 6/25/98) played in 69 games (68 starts) last season with Memphis, averaging 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 5.3 apg. and 1.16 stlpg. in 32.0 minpg., while shooting .484 (493-1,018) from the field, .392 (164-418) from three-point range, and .894 (177-198) from the free throw line.
He tied for seventh in the NBA in free throw percentage, 32nd in assists, 37th in scoring, and 40th in steals.
Bane scored in double figures 62 times, 20+ points 36 times, 30+ points six times, and 40+ points once, including a season-high 44 points on Mar. 17 @ Sacramento. He recorded 10 double-doubles and his first career triple-double on Mar. 3 vs. Atlanta with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, including a career-best 14-of-14 from the free throw line.
Bane led (or tied) the Grizzlies in scoring 15 times, rebounding 11 times, and assists 16 times. He also played and started in four playoff games, averaging 15.3 ppg., 6.8 RPG. and 3.3 apg. in 34.8 minpg.
Originally selected in the first round (30th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Boston, Bane has appeared in 313 career NBA regular season games (261 starts), all with Memphis, averaging 17.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg., while shooting .410 (812-1,979) from three-point range and .883 (678-768) from the free throw line.
Bane is Memphis’s all-time leader in free throw percentage, third in franchise history in three-pointers made, and fourth in three-point field goal percentage.
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