The trade market during the NBA offseason just got off to a very busy start on Sunday as the Orlando Magic took a big swing to add to their emerging young core. Shams Charania of ESPN.com was first to report that the Magic are acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four future first round picks and a pick swap.
The move has major implications across the Eastern Conference next season and perhaps foreshadows an eventful offseason to come for the Celtics. Let’s take a closer look at both sides of the deal and what it means for the Celtics.
Why the Magic gave up so much for Bane
Orlando is desperate for outside shooting and shot creation in their backcourt as evidenced in their first round loss to the Celtics back in April. With Bane, the Magic get a proven scorer in his prime that is signed for the next four seasons on a reasonable contract. Bane will make an average of $40.5 million a year for the next four seasons and that should be able to fit in alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to form a promising big three in Orlando. The Magic also rid themselves of a questionable contract (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) and keep the rest of their talent across the roster by making the move with mostly draft capital.
Why the Grizzlies made the deal
For a team that has misfired with plenty of secondary moves in the past two seasons (Marcus Smart trade) this is a signal that the front office did not believe in the core of Morant/Bane/Jackson moving forward. Bane has been a rock steady contributor amid team turmoil in the past few years but it’s hard to turn down four unprotected first round picks and a pick swap for a No. 2 or 3 option.
Whether Memphis takes a bigger stepback now (Ja Morant trade?) or looks to retool by using their new draft capital as trade assets to add around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. is something to watch for in the coming weeks.
What does Bane trade mean for Celtics trade market?
This type of move should not mean too much for Boston’s trade market involving high priced veterans like Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis. Holiday’s big contract always made Orlando an unlikely landing spot due to this age and the Magic opted for the younger option here at a much higher price in Bane.
The heavy draft capital given up for Bane does inform the trade market a bit when it comes to a hypothetical trade offer for Derrick White or Jaylen Brown. Both of those guys are on long-term deals just like Bane, so several unprotected picks (a la Mikal Bridges trade) would be the start of any offer for either guy if emerging young talent isn’t included in a deal. Whether the Celtics would be interested in a return like that is another matter, the bet here is no given their goal of retooling around Tatum’s in a year.
In the meantime, the Magic suddenly look like a much bigger factor in the Eastern Conference for next season and beyond. Orlando is already a top-tier defense and now they have a proven scorer and shooter to take some pressure off Banchero. In a wide open East next season, the Magic are taking a big swing now to take advantage of a window of opportunity created in part by Tatum’s injury.