Breaking NBA Trade: Blockbuster Deal Sends Desmond Bane to Eastern Contender

A stunning three-player trade has sent Memphis Grizzlies star shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, in return for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and a whopping four unprotected first-round picks.

BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UcQnmHbgZb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2025

Desmond Bane has averaged more than 20 points per game over the last three seasons in Memphis, along with five rebounds and five assists. He's turned himself into a true star. But FOUR unprotected first-round picks (plus a first-round pick swap) seems like an awfully high price to pay, in addition to two strong rotation players. And observers around the NBA are reacting in kind:

Trading 4 first round picks for 0x All-Star Desmond Bane is malpractice by whoever is running the Orlando Magic. Who were they even bidding against?? 🥴 pic.twitter.com/JnjuBPomDN
— K E V I N ⭑⭒⭒⭒⭒ (@KevChestnut) June 15, 2025

Desmond Bane went for HOW MANY firsts ?
— Austin (@ChefTrillie) June 15, 2025

The Grizzlies set themselves up for a variety of things they can do, with a boatload of firsts, and two new rotation players.

It seems like an extreme overpay, however, Bane is exactly what the Magic needed, a shooting guard who can spread the floor to take some of the pressure and offensive load off the All-Star frontcourt of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Bane averages 41% from the three-point line over the course of his five-year career.

NBA Trade Season is officially ON.