By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After five seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Desmond Bane is being traded to the Orlando Magic, as reported by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania and later Sunday officially confirmed by both teams.
The return for the Grizzlies amounts to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony alongside the 16th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, the first-round pick of the Phoenix Suns in 2026, the first-round picks of the Magic in 2028 and 2030, and a first-round pick swap in 2029, as noted by Charania. Every selection is unprotected.
Bane, 26, was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 30th pick and traded to the Grizzlies in 2020, coming out of Texas Christian. Over the last five years, he played in 340 games, including 27 over four postseason runs. Moving his talents to Orlando, he has been projected as a nice fit for German Franz Wagner and fellow leader Paolo Banchero with effective perimeter shooting and off-ball movement.
Caldwell-Pope, 32, has already been involved in two trades, while being part of championship runs with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and Denver Nuggets in 2023. The former Georgia standout is a veteran of 979 appearances in the league based in North America, since being selected by the Detroit Pistons with the eighth draft pick in 2013.
Anthony, 25, is a former North Carolina player in the NCAA with five straight NBA seasons at Orlando, featuring a total of 332 appearances. An explosive point guard, especially solid in offense. He was picked 15th overall in the 2020 draft.