Grizzlies trade Desmond Bane to the Magic

Desmond Bane (Google Images)

We are in the heart of the NBA Finals, but the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers did not make the headlines. That belonged to the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic on Sunday, who came to terms on a blockbuster deal according to the Associated Press. The Grizzlies have traded shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Magic for point guard Cole Anthony of Portland, Oregon, shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Thomaston, Georgia, and four first round draft picks. The draft picks will be in 2025, 2026, 2028 and 2030. There will also be a pick swap in 2029.

Bane has spent the last five seasons with the Grizzlies. In 2024-25, he averaged 19.2 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 5.3 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. Bane has a field goal percentage of .484, three point percentage of .392, and a free throw percentage of .894.

Cole Anthony is the son of former NBA veteran Greg Anthony. He has spent the last four seasons with the Magic, and has averaged 12.5 points per game in 320 games. In 2024-25, Anthony had a drop off in production, as he only averaged 9.4 points per game. That was almost three points less per game than his career average.

Caldwell-Pope has been a journeyman in the NBA compared to Cole Anthony and Bane, who have played with only one franchise each. He is joining his sixth NBA franchise after previously playing for the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic. While with the Lakers in 2020, and Nuggets in 2023, Caldwell-Pope won the NBA Finals. In 2024-25, he averaged five points per game.

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