In a seismic move unveiled on June 15, 2025, the Memphis Grizzlies traded All-Star-caliber guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in return for Kentavious Caldwell‑Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first‑round picks, and a pick swap. The Magic are banking on Bane’s elite shooting and spacing to pair with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
At the same time, Memphis opts to retool, prioritizing draft capital and veteran presence over a skillful third option. Our grade card returns the layers: Is the Magic’s star boost worth the haul? Or do the Grizzlies emerge as the long-term victors in this high-stakes exchange? Let’s grade the trade for all parties involved.
Orlando Magic: A
This move bolsters Orlando’s Big Three of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs with Desmond Bane, one of the league’s elite three-point specialists. Bane shot 41% from deep last season, a stark upgrade for a Magic squad that ranked last in three-point percentage (31.8%).
His defensive tenacity fits seamlessly into their wing-heavy, switchable unit, providing the spacing and two-way presence necessary to elevate Orlando into the Eastern Conference’s upper echelon, by acquiring Bane, the Magic signal an aggressive, “win-now” position, leveraging his max extension (four years, $163M) to catapult this offensive core.
With veterans KCP and Cole Anthony in tow, Orlando fortifies both depth and culture, positioning themselves as legitimate contenders capable of challenging the likes of the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks next season. Based on what we have seen from everyone other than Indiana, the East could be wide open next year, with Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury clouding Boston and the Knicks struggling to find a replacement for the fired Tom Thibodeau.
Desmond Bane: A
For Desmond Bane, this is an excellent landing spot. He’s joining a focused, playoff-ready franchise where his sharpshooting and defensive instincts are highly valued. Memphis, his old team, was mired in chemistry concerns, with playoff disappointments and roster unrest, making his departure a mutual release.
In Orlando, Bane can step into a defined role, riding shotgun in a championship-caliber backcourt next to Wagner and Banchero. This offers him a clearer path to postseason success and potential All-NBA recognition, something he struggled to chase amid Memphis’s volatile environment.
Memphis Grizzlies: B
Memphis has clearly shifted gears toward a redirect, if not a full rebuild. By shipping Bane at age 26, they’re wagering on future assets, four unprotected first-rounders, and a swap, over immediate star power. KCP and Anthony do not fit into their plans, so it is obvious the Grizzlies are making a complete shift.
Losing Bane’s prime shot-making and two-way reliability is no small sacrifice. This gamble hinges on whether GM Zach Kleinman can leverage that treasure trove into bona fide talent or trade fodder. Until we see moves involving Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., this haul seems incomplete. Four picks are great, but losing a player of Bane’s caliber will always hurt. In other words, the fallout from this deal remains to be seen.
Paolo Banchero: A
Banchero enters next season armed with another lethal scorer to supplement his versatile all-around game. Adding Bane transforms Orlando’s spacing and offensive options, placing Banchero firmly in the MVP conversation next year and enabling a smoother trajectory toward All-NBA consistency.
With defenses stretched and Banchero able to exploit lanes and mismatches, this trio sets up Orlando not just as contenders but as a potential dynasty-in-waiting, especially if chemistry holds and health cooperates.
Ja Morant: C
Ja Morant’s future in Memphis now appears increasingly tenuous. With Bane gone, he loses his most reliable shooting partner and stabilizing force on the wing, and the drama only escalates. There were reports earlier in the season about Morant’s time coming to an end in Memphis.
Even if Morant remains, the onus is on him to attract new talent around him, which may drive further rumblings about his fit and value. In a franchise that seems to be blowing everything up, Morant stands at a crossroads; his next move may come sooner rather than later, and the same goes for former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.
