Let The Chaos Begin! The Orlando Magic Pull Off The First Blockbuster Trade Of The Summer By Going All In On Desmond Bane

6/15/2025 4:11 PM

Julio Aguilar. Getty Images.

For the last few weeks, all we've heard is how this summer is going to be one for the record books. Chaos like you read about. And since the free agent market is mostly dogshit this year, that means things were going to have to get crazy via trade, which is certainly fine by me. I don't really care how the chaos happens, just give it to us!

Well, we're officially off and running

GOD DAMN. OK, there's a lot to digest here. Let's take it step by step.

For starters, it should surprise exactly zero people that the Orlando Magic made an investment into a win now offensive player. After watching their season and then their playoff series against the Celts, that offense needed an infusion of talent, more specifically shooting talent. They have the defense, they have the pieces in Paolo and Franz, but that was a team that couldn't make an open 3PA to save their goddamn lives. Most people had the Magic looking to improve their offense, but I feel like most thought it would be through the point guard position. Instead, they shifted and went ALL THE FUCK IN on Desmond Bane, a player who in theory fits their exact needs. A good defender, a legit 3PT shooter and someone who is going to help the spacing around the Magic's two best players. Helping off Bane to cover Paolo/Franz is going to lead to a shit ton of open looks, and Bane has a proven track record as a consistent NBA shooter.

He also comes with this contract, so there's also a level of security in making this type of investment

But make no mistake about it, 4 unprotected 1sts and 1 pick swap is a hefty price. The players the Magic moved are mostly whatever, given that KCP was a disaster signing and Cole Anthony has his limitations. You're not crying over losing that combination of talent given that from a player perspective, the Magic easily got the best player in this deal. When you make a trade like this, the assumption is given the talent you already have that the team will be pretty good, so sometimes the picks are worth moving for you as a franchise. Could this be another Mikal Bridges/NYK trade? Maybe, but I don't blame the Magic for being aggressive. Especially with how wide open the East could be next season. A player entering his NBA prime years that has the exact skillset you so very obviously needed and is signed long term? You take that risk, especially if other options weren't available. Maybe the price was too high for someone like Anfernee Simons, so this was where the Magic ended up.

For the Grizzlies it's a pretty shocking move, and it makes you wonder if they are about to smash the button on a rebuild. Is JJJ available for the right price? Are we about to see Ja Morant get moved? I get Bane has a pricey contract and if someone makes you a God-like offer why it makes sense to flip the asset, but man. I'm a little surprised they bailed on Bane. I guess it's true when they say every player has a price, and this price was too good for the Grizzlies to pass up.

My question is, what does this now mean for the rest of the trade market if Desmond Bane is going for that amount of picks? Trades in the NBA make no goddamn sense. Just compare what we've seen between Bridges, Dame, Luka, and now Bane. Zero consistency gives us zero idea of what players are worth in today's market. You would think this now raises the price of everyone right? It's like when you try to buy a house. You may not have wanted to pay that price, but that's what the market now says it's going to take, so you bite the bullet and sign your life away. That's basically what some of these teams are doing in the trade market. The Magic just mortgaged their immediate future, and only time will tell if it was worth it.

All I know is we were promised chaos, so I'd say things are off to a great start. I can't imagine too many people saw this trade or that trade package coming, but here we are. This is the beauty of the NBA offseason, and the good news is we're only getting started.