Apr 24, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) handles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) defends during the third quarter during game three for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic signed Desmond Bane to provide outside shooting and defense. That is the main reason they traded for him from the Memphis Grizzlies: to add offense alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. But there is another reason he is expected to fill another role this season.
Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem pointed it out while speaking with Magic coach Jamahl Mosley on ESPN during the NBA Summer League. The Magic plan to use Bane as a facilitator as well because of how he played last year when Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was out of the lineup.
"Desmond had a lot of experience handling the ball with Ja out," Haslem said. "He got better at it. I saw it. They were able to win a couple games. He got comfortable doing it."
> Udonis Haslem Praises Coach Mosley & Magic’s Two-Way Depth & Offseason Moves“I think y’all got the most two-way players in the league…I played against y’all — you can run 17 pick and rolls and still don’t have a matchup you wanna attack.”
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> High praise from a defensive-minded… [pic.twitter.com/IBVr6NcBfL](https://t.co/IBVr6NcBfL)