The NBA was shaken by a huge trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic on June 15, 2025, ESPN's Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) announced.

The Magic acquire sharpshooting wing Desmond Bane, and the Grizzlies get Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-rounds, and one first-round trade. This trade reshapes the futures of both rosters, with Orlando going for it and Memphis rebuilding behind a record-breaking draft class. Below, we break down the trade's impact and provide updated figures on the featured players.

 

 

 

Orlando Magic Trade Impact

The Magic are all in on their young core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane. Bane, a 26-year-old star shooting guard, brings a career 40.2% shooting percentage from deep and improved playmaking (5.3 APG in 2024-25) to Orlando's offense. His ability to space the floor and create scoring from the dribble makes him the ideal complement to Banchero, giving the Magic a dynamic offense to match in an open-ended Eastern Conference. Since Boston is in a rebuild, Orlando sees an opportunity to try things out on the league's elite teams like Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

But at what cost? Giving up championship-tested 3-and-D veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and high-scoring reserve Cole Anthony makes Orlando's bench not as strong. The proposed capital—four unprotected first-round selections (No. 16 in 2025, a 2026 Phoenix pick via trade, a 2028 first, and a 2030 first, with a 2029 top-2 protected pick trade)—is a gamble on the roster they currently possess. If chemistry or injuries do not work out, the lack of assets down the line could come back to bite them, especially under second-apron budget constraints. But Bane's $207 million deal appears to be a building block maneuver for a team willing to make the jump.

 

 

 

Memphis Grizzlies Trade Impact

Memphis has accumulated plenty of capital by turning Desmond Bane into a goldmine of assets while staying in contention. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a veteran defender and 40% three-point shooter, is perfectly suited to Memphis' rugged physicality, complementing their perimeter D with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Cole Anthony, the 24-year-old firecracker, provides a scoring punch off the bench and might succeed in Memphis' pace-based system. The true bonanza is the draft deal: four unprotected firsts and a pick swap provide Memphis with the option to pick young talent or trade for an overture.

Bane, a homegrown talent, is bitter to Grizzlies stalwarts, but his injury history (missed 40 games in 2023-24) and massive contract gave Memphis enough reasons to trade him. Memphis gained by selling high, acquiring assets that can retool their roster for the future. With Morant's best years now fully in effect, the Grizzlies can leverage Caldwell-Pope's veteran leadership to remain competitive while the eyes of the front office turn toward a future megadeal. This deal puts Memphis among the league's wealthiest asset-based clubs.
 

 

 

Desmond Bane Stats

Desmond Bane is an elite-level two-way wing. His career numbers, with emphasis on his 2024-25 season (based on figures provided), are highlighted below:

2024-25 Season (Memphis Grizzlies)

  •   Games Played/Started: 69/68
  •   Minutes Per Game: 32.0
  •   Points Per Game: 19.2
  •   Field Goal%: 48.4%
  •   Three-Point%: 39.2%
  •   Rebounds Per Game: 6.1
  •   Assists Per Game: 5.3
  •   Steals Per Game: 1.2
  •   Blocks Per Game: 0.4
  •   Turnovers Per Game: 2.4
  •   Free Throw%: 89.4%


Career Highlights

  •  Peak Scoring: 23.7 PPG in 2023-24
  •  Career Three-Point%: 40.2% in five seasons
  •  Playmaking Development: From 1.7 APG in his rookie year to 5.3 APG in 2024-25

Bane's efficiency (56.5% eFG% in 2024-25) and stamina (69 games played) qualify him as Orlando's plug-and-play star, but his defensive weaknesses will be reliant on support from Jalen Suggs and Wagner.
 

 

 

Cole Anthony Stats

Cole Anthony has also been Orlando's staple bench player. Below are his career statistics, with his 2024-25 season in bold (from the given data):

2024-25 Season (Orlando Magic)

  •   Games Played/Started: 67/22
  •   Minutes Per Game: 18.4
  •   Points Per Game: 9.4
  •   Field Goal%: 42.4%
  •   Three-Point%: 35.3%
  •   Rebounds Per Game: 3.0
  •   Assists Per Game: 2.9
  •   Steals Per Game: 0.7
  •   Blocks Per Game: 0.5
  •   Turnovers Per Game: 1.5
  •   Free Throw%: 82.3%


Career Highlights

  •  Career Scoring Peak: 16.3 PPG in 2021-22
  •  Five-Season Career Assists: 3.9 APG
  •  Best Shooting Season: 45.4% FG in 2022-23

Anthony's scoring skills and athleticism give Memphis a solid sixth man, yet his defense-oriented shortcomings and streaky three-point shooting (career 34.6%) will probably restrict him to lower-leverage situations.
 

 

 

Desmond Bane Trade Reaction Final Thoughts

This trade is a turning point for both organizations. Orlando's decision to acquire Bane shows their commitment to compete now, but the gargantuan draft capital cost leaves no margin for error. Memphis, on the other hand, receives a historic return that makes them contenders and paves the way for future trades. During the 2025 NBA season, this trade will be analyzed based on Bane's fit in Orlando and how Memphis utilizes their new toys. The league is even more intriguing now.
 

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