The Orlando Magic have made a significant move this summer, aiming to bolster their scoring and shooting capabilities. They’ve managed to secure Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies even before the official start of the NBA’s summer season. This move involved trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four future first-round draft picks to Memphis, along with a prospective pick swap in 2029.
Jeff Weltman, president of basketball operations for the Magic, expressed his excitement about acquiring Bane, highlighting his impressive abilities as an outstanding guard in the NBA. Weltman emphasized Bane’s shooting proficiency, high basketball IQ, and overall skill set, which the Magic believe will advance their team’s performance.
Bane comes to Orlando after averaging 19.2 points this past season with Memphis and maintaining a 39% success rate from the three-point line. The Magic, who made playoff appearances in the last two seasons but exited in the first round, aim to enhance their shooting capabilities alongside star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
The addition of Bane appears to fill a void for the Magic in terms of perimeter shooting. Bane has demonstrated his scoring prowess, achieving 30 or more points in 29 regular-season games and surpassing 40 points twice. His record for three-pointers in a game is eight, an accomplishment that the Magic haven’t seen from any player in over four years.
In striving to be competitive in the Eastern Conference, the Magic see Bane’s capability from beyond the arc as a critical asset. Last season, the Magic ranked last in three-point shooting and percentage in the NBA, and were also near the bottom in overall scoring.
While known for their defensive play, the Magic stand to benefit from Bane’s abilities on that end as well, evidenced by his 1.2 steals per game this past season. Furthermore, Bane’s impressive free throw percentage, standing at 88% for his career, should assist the Magic, who were among the league’s lower-performing teams in this aspect.
Memphis, trying to reshape after a tumultuous season marked by a coaching change and a disappointing playoff sweep by Oklahoma City, sees this as a chance to revamp. Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman acknowledged the need for change despite their 48-win season earning them just an 8th seed.
Caldwell-Pope, who has enjoyed two championship victories, served as Orlando’s most consistent starter, appearing in the opening five 77 times while averaging 8.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Anthony, completing his fifth season with Orlando, had fluctuated between starter and reserve throughout his tenure. Both players’ departures aim at paving the way for the integration of Bane into the Magic’s plans for growth and success.