Magic Go All-In On Desmond Bane. Will Price Be Worth It?

After trading for Desmond Bane in what could become the defining move of Jeff Weltman’s tenure as president of basketball operations, the Orlando Magic left little doubt: they are officially in win-now mode.

The Magic have suffered through consecutive first-round playoff losses, both defined more by offensive droughts than defensive lapses. They clearly decided enough was enough.

Now they’ve turned to Bane, a no-nonsense wing who brings more toughness, shooting, and a long-term contract. But at what cost?

On Sunday, Orlando sent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the No. 16 pick in this year’s draft, plus first-rounders in 2026, 2028, and 2030 — and even a 2029 pick swap — to the Memphis Grizzlies. Four picks and a swap. That’s not going all-in. That’s pushing in the chips, the table, and the floor underneath it.

A Big Swing and a Clear Message

Weltman said earlier this spring that the Magic would adopt a “win-now philosophy.” He wasn’t kidding.

Bane, who turns 27 later this month, is a career 41.0% shooter from beyond the arc. He’s tough, disciplined, and capable of creating offense without hijacking possessions. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season, and he did it efficiently. He’s also signed through 2029, giving Orlando long-term stability at shooting guard next to defensive bulldog Jalen Suggs.

You can already envision the lineup: Suggs, Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. It has length, versatility, scoring, and grit. It’s a real lineup in a real conference that suddenly looks a lot more open than it did a year ago.

But even with Bane in the fold, the Magic aren’t guaranteed anything more than a return to the playoffs. They’re gambling that their own picks — now Memphis’ picks — will land in the mid-to-late 20s. Because if they don’t? This deal gets dicey fast.

Memphis Bets on the Long View

On the flip side, the Grizzlies may have lost one of their foundational players but they gained something just as valuable. That would be none other than flexibility.

For a team that just flamed out in Round 1 against Oklahoma City, fired its head coach, and looked stuck in neutral despite the return of Ja Morant, a shake-up was coming. This was it.

Caldwell-Pope and Anthony offer short-term stability, but this is about picks, and Memphis just collected a pile. Not one of the four future firsts is protected. The 2029 swap is top-two protected, but everything else is on the table. That’s rare. And that’s why Memphis made the move.

Yes, it’s a little surprising to see Bane go instead of, say, a role player or an expiring deal. But the Grizzlies needed to get younger and cheaper, and fast. Now they have the draft capital to retool around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. without bottoming out.

The Verdict? We’ll See.

This is the kind of trade that looks better for one side now and better for the other in three years.

Orlando is hoping Bane is the guy who puts them over the top, a proven scorer who can space the floor for Banchero and relieve the pressure of a young core still figuring out how to win when it counts.

Memphis is betting that the Magic won’t stay in the upper half of the East forever, and that those picks could turn into blue-chip talent, or ammo for something even bigger.

For now, both sides can claim a win. But the real grade won’t come until we see where Orlando finishes in 2026 and perhaps where those picks land in 2028.

And if history has taught us anything, in this league, gambles this big never land quietly.