The Philadelphia 76ers have not done anything just yet, but of course, the league is not going to wait for them — or for any team at that — to move the cup themselves and get the ball rolling to ignite the dormant madness in the offseason.
True enough, the first blockbuster trade this summer did not even wait until the 2024-25 season officially concluded to send everyone in a state of frenzy. The Orlando Magic, which had a swift appearance in the playoffs before getting ousted in the first-round in just five games, have decided that they want to win now.
As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Magic have acquired Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for a package involving Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and another future pick swap, setting the stage for an offseason that could very well trump all summers prior to this one.
While this deal has its merits for both teams, it actually affects the 76ers in a way fans should see coming from here on out.
The 76ers get screwed up as boneheaded trade affects their offseason strategy
Right from the get-go, this deal caused the Magic to garner significant flak. Bane, while one of the better shooting guards in the NBA, is certainly not someone you would envision a team trading four future first-round selections to acquire.
This drastic degree of price gouging will definitely slow things down for the 76ers on the trade front. While the front office has not given any resolute signs of venturing solidly toward that path, the rumor mills say otherwise, and it is only natural for the external noise to harp that tune in account of the season they just turned in.
Now, teams will try to elevate their asking prices for their popular commodities in the trade market, which of course does not bode well for the 76ers, which are desperate to flip their fortunes without completely letting go of the draft capital they worked so far in past years to recoup.
While the actual reality is that there may not be a swap as lucrative as this one in the offseason, the mere fact that the floor for prospective asking prices could rise would create scenarios where the 76ers get turned-off right from the beginning, ultimately foreclosing their chances to make significant changes via trades.
All in all, this blockbuster trade is certainly not going to affect the Philadelphia 76ers on the hardwood, but it will definitely change the way the transaction tables could be set up for them this summer.