In what is one of the biggest blockbuster deals set to rock the NBA landscape, the Orlando Magic acquired Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a first round pick swap.
Bane, one of the NBA’s new antagonists and bad boys, due to his physical play and trash-talking, signed a new five-year $207 million contract extension with the Grizzlies before being dealt.
Now in Orlando, Bane pairs up with rising star forward Paolo Banchero, small forward Franz Wagner and point guard Jalen Suggs to give Orlando one of the league’s deepest and most formidable starting lineups in the East—if not the NBA.
With the sad and tragic string of injuries to stars such as Jason Tatum in Boston, Damian Lillard in Milwaukee and most recently Tyrese Halliburton in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, there is a legit possibility that the East could run thru either Orlando, or their new emerging rival, Cleveland.
After losing to both Boston and Cleveland the last two years in the playoffs, Orlando decided to go all in landing Bane, who averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
For the season, the former 2020 first round pick out of TCU (via Boston) averaged 19.7 points while shooting 39% from three-point range.
Now in the Magic Kingdom, both Bane and the Magic hope to be the bane of every team’s existence this coming season and beyond.