Desmond Bane’s Shocking Trade to Orlando Magic: What This Means for Your Fantasy Basketball Team
Father’s Day brunch took an unexpected turn when Shams Charania dropped a bombshell: the Memphis Grizzlies have shipped Desmond Bane over to the Orlando Magic. In return? Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, plus a pick swap. Yeah, you heard that right — a hefty haul for a guy who hasn’t quite snagged an All-Star nod in his five years. But here’s the kicker… Bane fills gaps the Magic desperately needed to patch up. Orlando was dead last in 3-point shooting last season, and with Bane’s lifetime 41% success beyond the arc, this move screams sharp-shooting upgrade. Plus, he’s not just a scorer; his playmaking has been consistently impressive, dishing out over five assists per game for two straight campaigns.
Defensively? Sure, you might miss KCP’s lockdown skills, but Bane’s size and versatility let him switch effectively across multiple guards. This deal shows Orlando’s serious about turning heads in the East — pairing Bane with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs could really shake things up. The center position remains a sore spot, but I’m betting on the Magic making more waves before this offseason wraps up. And those draft picks Memphis scored? Could signal a rebuild or a savvy reshuffle — time will tell. Interested in a deep dive on what this means for fantasy hoops and both teams’ futures?
It’s not as if Bane isn’t used to deferring a bit, but this configuration is different. The Grizzlies had moments this year as one of the best teams in basketball, and that often occurred when Bane was the primary facilitator, allowing Morant to move more off the ball. We should see plenty of that with Bane’s versatility, but let’s not get it twisted. He should feast on any kickouts and gravity that Paolo or Franz bring. Another 19/5/5 campaign is doable, and I’d still be good taking him in the early few rounds of 9-cat drafts because he’s efficient, even if there’s a slight dip in production.The Magic, willing to trade their near-term draft capital for Bane, signals that Orlando isn’t messing around and will be a force in the East. I love the core of Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Bane. The center spot is the weakness, but I doubt Orlando is done making moves.
AdvertisementI was enjoying a nice little Father’s Day brunch when Shams Charania interrupted my meal and libations to announce that the Memphis Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a pick swap.
I was enjoying a nice little Father’s Day brunch when Shams Charania interrupted my meal and libations to announce that the Memphis Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a pick swap.
Back to the draft compensation. The 2026 Phoenix or Washington pick swap could be valuable, but the remaining picks offered in the trade, if conveyed, would be of the late-round variety. This also assumes the Magic are healthy and successful over the next few seasons.
Orlando Magic
On the surface, that’s a lot of picks to give up for a player who hasn’t been an All-Star in his five years in the league. But let’s look beyond that — Bane is exactly what the Magic needed and coveted this offseason. They were last in the league in 3-point shooting, and Bane is shooting 41% from beyond the arc in his career. They also needed a guard capable of facilitating the offense. Bane is coming off two straight seasons of averaging over five assists per game.
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