CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Orlando Magic are no longer knocking politely at the Eastern Conference door – they’re kicking it down.
With their blockbuster acquisition of Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, the Magic have made the kind of move that fundamentally alters the conference landscape, transforming from promising upstart to legitimate contender overnight.
“I would be incredibly tempted to pick the Magic over every single team but Indiana and maybe New York in a seven game playoff series. And that includes the Cavs,” said Chris Fedor, cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter, on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast.
It’s a bold statement that would have seemed outlandish just days ago but now feels distinctly possible.
What makes this trade so transformative? Simply put, Bane perfectly addresses Orlando’s most glaring weakness.
“This is an A plus deal for the Magic. I think this elevates Orlando to a top four team in the Eastern Conference. Because Desmond Bane is everything that the Magic needed and everything that the Magic were missing. The shooting and the spacing,” Fedor explained.
The numbers support this assessment.
The Magic ranked among the NBA’s worst teams in catch-and-shoot three-point percentage last season, a critical deficiency in today’s spacing-oriented game. Enter Bane, one of the league’s premier marksmen.
As Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com columnist, pointed out on the podcast, Bane is “one of four players in NBA history to shoot 40% from 3 for his career on more than six attempts per game.”
But Bane’s impact extends beyond just shooting percentages. His presence creates a gravitational pull that will transform Orlando’s offensive ecosystem, particularly benefiting rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
“Desmond Bane, it’s one shooter, but he’s the kind of guy that you just. He’s no help at all times. He can create so much space for you off the ball. He’s got the attention of the defense at all times. I really think he can unlock a different tier the Magic can get into,” Watkins said.
This offensive evolution could push Orlando into true contention, particularly at a moment when the Eastern Conference hierarchy seems unusually fluid.
With Boston potentially vulnerable following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and several teams jockeying for position, the Magic have chosen the perfect moment to make their move.
The parallels to Indiana’s acquisition of Pascal Siakam are striking.
As Fedor noted, “This deal to me that Orlando made, it is shades of Indiana getting Pascal Siakam. It was Indiana a couple of years ago recognizing that they were pretty good... but they needed somebody to bring it all together.”
Just as Siakam helped elevate the Pacers to NBA Finals contenders, Bane could be the catalyst that unlocks Orlando’s considerable potential.
What makes this particularly concerning for Cleveland is the timing.
The Cavaliers are coming off a disappointing playoff exit, facing questions about their core four, and now must contend with yet another rising threat in the East. Orlando, already a tough matchup for Cleveland, has addressed their primary weakness while maintaining their defensive identity.
With Bane now in Orlando – a player whose “best basketball may be ahead of him,” according to Fedor – the Eastern Conference landscape has shifted. While Cleveland remains talented, the margin for error has shrunk, and the path through the playoffs just got considerably more treacherous.
The message is clear: the Magic are no longer content with simply making the playoffs. They’re coming for the throne, and the Cavaliers have been put on notice.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
_Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Wine and Gold Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions._