Orlando Magic Acquire Desmond Bane from Memphis Grizzlies a Move to Spark Offense

The first big move of June was made on Sunday with the Orlando Magic acquiring five-year veteran Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. To get the shooting guard, the Magic sent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony along with four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap. The picks that the Grizzlies are getting are the No. 16 pick in 2025’s draft, a 2026 first-round pick and unprotected first-round picks in 2028 and 2030. 

While the Grizzlies add a “3 and D” wing player in Caldwell-Pope and an offensive-minded guard in Cole Anthony, the Magic have made the move to get some needed offense alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. 

In 2024-25, the Magic were led in scoring by Banchero at 25.9 points per game and Wagner at 24.2 points per game. Point guard Jalen Suggs averaged 16.2 points per game but played his last game on January 25, missing the last few months of the season with a knee injury. Anthony averaged 9.4 points and Caldwell-Pope 8.7. 

For the Grizzlies in 2024-25, Bane in 69 games (68 starts) averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on 48.8% shooting (15 shots per game). He is a very good 3-point shooter at (41% for his career) and is powerfully built. He rebounds well for a 6 foot, 5 inch guard and gives the Magic an inside finisher, too.

For the Grizzlies, this deal gives them bench scoring with Anthony, an athletic player who can get hot. In Game 2 of round one against the Atlanta Hawks, he scored 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Pope is a veteran, 32 years old who defends well on the perimeter while also being able to score. He gives the Grizzlies more defense than Bane did.  

With a lineup as of now of Suggs (when he returns), Bane, Wagner, Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr., the Magic will have an offense in 2025-26 that will be far better than its 105.4 points per game (28th) and rank of 25 in offensive rating (108.9). They have two really strong guards and two forwards who can score. Bane now gives them a quality scoring option at guard who will not take many shots away from Banchero or Wagner. A move in the right direction for the Magic, a team that lost three games in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics by single digits. Their offense will be much improved in 2025-26 and they placed themselves in the mix in the Eastern Conference.