In a surprising twist that speaks volumes about the evolving value of draft picks and perceived upside, Desmond Bane has officially been traded for more first-round picks than Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant combined.
Yes, you read that right.
What the Grizzlies got for Desmond Bane: 4 first-round picks + 1 pick swap
What the Mavericks got for Luka Doncic: 1 first-round pick
What the Suns got for Kevin Durant: 1 first-round pick
The Memphis Grizzlies traded Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the 2026 Suns first-round pick, the 2028 Magic first-round pick, the 2030 Magic first-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick swap with Orlando.
That’s four first-round picks, one pick swap, and two rotation-ready players, including a two-time champion in KCP.
Compare that to the deals involving two of the biggest names in the sport.
The Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Doncic, arguably the best 25-year-old in the NBA, to the Los Angeles Lakers in a shocking blockbuster. What did they get back? Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a single 2029 first-round pick.
The Mavericks reportedly passed on including a 2031 first-rounder and also didn’t demand any pick swaps. AD is still an elite two-way force when healthy, and Christie has potential, but the draft capital doesn’t match the magnitude of Luka’s age and ceiling.
Then there’s Kevin Durant, a two-time Finals MVP and one of the best scorers of all time, who was traded to the Houston Rockets.
In exchange, the Phoenix Suns received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round picks. Green is a flashy young scorer with upside, but hasn’t put it all together yet.
Brooks brings elite defense but isn’t a franchise cornerstone. And while five second-rounders add depth to Phoenix’s war chest, the only first-rounder in the deal is this year’s pick, in a class widely considered among the weakest in recent memory.
Bane, a solid two-way shooting guard who averaged 23.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds last season, is clearly respected league-wide. But seeing him fetch more long-term draft value than Doncic and Durant together is still a jaw-dropping revelation.
Of course, context matters. Durant is entering his age-37 season. Luka Doncic, on the other hand, had no idea he was being traded. The deal blindsided him, and reports indicated he found out only after it was finalized.
Meanwhile, Bane, while not a superstar, is entering his prime at 26 and comes with four years of team control under a $207 million contract.
Still, the numbers don’t lie. In terms of pure draft capital, Bane is now in a class of his own, a testament to the modern NBA’s obsession with controllable assets, flexibility, and long-term planning.
Whether that trade pays off for the Magic remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Desmond Bane just made history, even if it wasn’t on the court.
