The Orlando Magic wasted no time making a splash this summer. On Sunday, the team officially acquired sharpshooter Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade designed to solve their biggest weakness: perimeter scoring.
In the deal, Orlando sent Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and four future first-round picks (2026, 2028, 2030 unprotected, plus a 2029 pick swap) to Memphis. The Grizzlies also received rights to Yang Hansen, the No. 16 overall pick, who was then moved to Portland.
Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman called Bane “one of the elite guards in our league,” citing his shooting, IQ, and versatility as key reasons the franchise is excited to pair him with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Bane averaged 19.2 points and 39% from three last season, with 29 games of 30+ points and two 40-point outings in his young career. For a Magic squad that ranked dead last in both 3-point makes (11.2 per game) and percentage (.318), his arrival instantly transforms the offense.
Beyond his shooting, Bane also brings toughness and defensive instincts (1.2 steals per game) that align with Orlando’s gritty identity.
The cost was steep. Caldwell-Pope — a proven two-time champion — and Anthony, who spent his first five seasons with the Magic, both move on. But the front office believes this is the move that elevates Orlando from playoff team to true contender.
For a franchise hungry to climb the Eastern Conference ladder, Desmond Bane could be the missing piece.
