The first splash of the NBA offseason came from a franchise that’s usually known for patience. But the Orlando Magic didn’t wait around this time — not when Desmond Bane became available.
Orlando swung for the fences, landing Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade that cost them Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four future first-round picks, including a 2029 pick swap.
We have acquired guard-forward Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Cole Anthony, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and multiple future first round draft picks.
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 15, 2025
It was a steep price, but one Orlando president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said the team had no second thoughts about.
“We’re betting on ourselves. That’s up to us to determine what the value of those picks are,” Weltman spoke with reporters inside the Magic’s practice facility for the first time since the blockbuster deal.
For months, Orlando had been circling the league, doing what Weltman calls “laps” — checking in with teams, gauging availability, looking for ways to level up a roster that had grown into a playoff regular but still lacked perimeter firepower.
When it became clear that Bane was not just available, but gettable, the tone of those conversations changed.
“We valued him very highly for a while. When I stood here after the season, I honestly didn’t expect him to be available in these conversations. But when that changed, we shifted gears and made it a priority,” Weltman admitted.
Bane, who turns 27 later this month, averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 69 games last season. He shot 39.2% from deep and has earned a reputation around the league as both a deadeye shooter and a strong-willed, no-nonsense leader.
“There aren’t too many people the league regards as highly — in the locker room, in the organization, in practice — as Desmond Bane,” Weltman said.
“He’s an old-school tough guy. He’s locked in every night. That’s the kind of player we believe can help take us to the next level,” he added.
It’s no secret that shooting has long been Magic's biggest flaw. They finished dead last in 3-point percentage (.318) and ranked 28th in scoring (105.4 points per game).
Even with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner blossoming into one of the league’s most promising forward tandems, Orlando simply needed more scoring and that was evident in their five-game East opening round loss to the second-seeded Celtics.
Bane brings that in abundance. In 29 games across his career, he’s topped 30 points. He’s hit eight threes in a game — something no Magic player has done in more than four years.
“We feel like we’re going to be a good team,” Weltman said. “We feel that the other unique thing about a guy like Des being available to obtain in a trade is the fact that he’s just about to turn 27, so if we are a good team, then we hope to be a good team for a while.”
Caldwell-Pope, a two-time champion, started more games than anyone else for Orlando last season. Anthony, once seen as a key part of the team’s future, had settled into a backup role.
Both were part of the Magic’s growth, but the team made it clear that Bane represents something else entirely — a push to contend now.
“He checks every box, He’s the kind of player who can help raise everybody’s level. That’s why we did it. That’s why we believe in him,” Weltman ended.
