Magic Acquire Desmond Bane in Major Trade

The Orlando Magic secured Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in a significant transaction aimed at bolstering their shooting and offensive capabilities.

In return, Memphis will receive guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, along with four first-round draft picks and a first-round pick swap.

Magic’s president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, expressed his enthusiasm in a released statement.

Weltman stated, “We are delighted to welcome Desmond to the Orlando Magic family.”

He further added, “Throughout his five seasons in the NBA, Desmond has proven himself as one of the premier guards in the league, and we anticipate his shooting prowess, basketball IQ, and diverse skill set will greatly assist our team in advancing forward.”

Bane, aged 26, was the No. 30 overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft and has played five seasons with the Grizzlies. His career statistics include averages of 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over 29.6 minutes per game.

During the 2024-25 season, Bane showcased impressive performances, averaging 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, while maintaining a 39.2 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the arc.

Bane, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, has faced injury challenges in the past three seasons, limiting his appearances to 58 games in 2022-23, followed by 42 and 69 games in subsequent seasons.

In July 2023, Bane agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies worth $197.2 million, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season.

Caldwell-Pope, who will now represent Memphis, was a consistent starter for Orlando this season, averaging 8.7 points with a 44 percent shooting rate.

Anthony, in his fifth professional season, averaged 9.4 points but had a limited role.