A handful of teams watched intently as the Memphis Grizzlies dealt shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for one starter, one viable rotation player and five first-round draft assets (three first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps).
Those teams, which include the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, are all most concerned with one element of the deal -- how it affects the trade market for superstar Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, who is almost certain to be moved in the coming months.
Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported in the early hours of Monday, June 16, that despite Durant's status as a multiple-time champion, a former MVP, a future Hall of Famer and a current All-Star/26.6 points per game scorer does not mean that one of those four franchises (or some other team that may come out of the woodwork in the future) will have to pay more for his services than the Magic paid for Bane.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant gestures to the referee for a foul call against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.
Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
"In speaking with several sources Sunday in the wake of the Bane deal, the universal belief is that any draft packages going to Phoenix in a Durant deal likely won't surpass the haul of draft picks coming to Memphis for Bane, who hasn't yet made an All-Star team," Bontemps wrote.
Bontemps stopped short of putting an exact price on Durant, though he did quote current NBA executives who put Durant's market into perspective.
"Those deals don't mean Durant is worth 12 firsts now," Bontemps' unnamed source said of the Bane deal and the one the New York Knicks made with the Brooklyn Nets last offseason to acquire Mikal Bridges, which cost five first-round picks, a pick swap, a second-rounder and Bojan Bogdonavich.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Grizzlies got a two-time NBA champion and starting shooting guard in Kentavious-Caldwell Pope as well as a backup point guard in Cole Anthony from the Magic in exchange for Bane. Memphis also hauled in the No. 16 pick in this summer's draft and a pick swap in 2026 that will become a lottery pick, and probably a high one, if both the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards miss the playoffs next year -- two likely outcomes.
Memphis also landed first-rounders in 2028 and 2030, as well as a first-round pick swap from the Magic in 2029, per ESPN's Kevin Pelton.
Sources reported Saturday that Durant prefers to land with the Spurs, Rockets or Heat, indicating that he is willing to sign an extension with any of those three teams. Durant has one year remaining on his current contract and will play the upcoming campaign at the age of 37.