When the Orlando Magic gave up four first-round picks, a pick swap, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony to acquire Desmond Bane, it sent shockwaves through the NBA. The immediate reaction across social media was a mix of awe, confusion, and criticism. But according to renowned NBA analyst and podcaster Bill Simmons, the backlash isn’t just misguided, it’s flat-out uninformed.
On a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, the Ringer founder addressed the noise head-on:
“That’s just people that don’t watch basketball. I mean, come on, I would do this in a heartbeat. It’s three non-lottery picks, it’s the No. 16 pick this year, and the Phoenix pick, which is the prize.”
Simmons’ defense of the trade sheds light on a growing divide between casual fans who see Bane as a solid, but not spectacular player, and insiders who understand the full extent of his value.
Bane, still just 25, averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists last season while shooting 45.6% from the field and 38.1% from deep prior to injuries.
He’s one of the best two-way guards in the league: strong, efficient, and capable of both handling the ball and defending the opposing team’s best perimeter player.
To Simmons’ point, the picks Orlando gave up are unlikely to become elite. The No. 16 pick in this year’s draft is a coin flip at best, and the two future Orlando picks are coming from a team already stocked with young talent in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and now Desmond Bane.
The Suns’ 2026 pick is the true wildcard, a bet that Phoenix will decline post-Kevin Durant, but even that’s more speculative than certain.
What Orlando did here wasn’t reckless. It was calculated. They’re betting that Bane’s shooting and secondary playmaking will unlock even more space for Banchero and Wagner to operate.
They’re betting that a trio under the age of 27 with playoff experience and complementary skillsets can grow into a contender together. And they’re betting that those picks won’t come back to haunt them because they’ll be winning too much for it to matter.
Memphis, meanwhile, has signaled a pivot. Whether that’s a full rebuild or a soft retool remains unclear, but shipping out Bane, a homegrown star on a five-year deal, was not a move made lightly.
As Simmons hinted, the return is strong only if you view Bane as more than a 19 PPG scorer. If you see him as a tone-setter, a spacing solution, and an elite connector, then four picks start to make a lot more sense.
It was a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Lakers’ ability to land stars via questionable trade hauls, but also a reflection of how wild the market has become.
The bottom line? Desmond Bane isn’t just worth four first-rounders. In the current NBA, where versatile two-way wings are gold, Simmons believes he might be underpriced.
