The NBA world has been anticipating a major trade for several weeks.
However, the blockbuster deal that unfolded on Sunday wasn`t the one many expected:
The Memphis Grizzlies sent guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round draft picks, and a future pick swap.
Numerous factors made this Father`s Day morning trade a significant surprise, most notably that it didn`t involve Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
But this was far from the only shock felt across the league. Here’s how NBA insiders are reacting to this early, intriguing transaction, which could have substantial ripple effects.
Why Did Orlando Make This Move?
It had become a popular NBA trivia question: Who was the last player the Magic actively acquired via trade?
Before Sunday, the answer was former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz, whom Orlando acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2019 trade deadline.
After years of relative inactivity, Orlando has now gone all-in, clearly seeing Bane as the piece that can elevate the franchise back to prominence in the Eastern Conference. The Magic haven`t won a playoff series in 15 years. Discussions with league sources reveal divided opinions on whether adding Bane will change this.
Some view Bane as an ideal fit—a shooting guard who can defend and boasts a career 41% accuracy from beyond the arc. The Magic struggled significantly with outside shooting last season, hitting just 31.7%, the lowest percentage in the NBA.
“He`ll be a good fit,” one assistant coach commented. “There aren`t many players you`d want as your third scoring option who can perform at his level.”
Others questioned the steep cost, both in salary (Bane is owed $163 million over the next four years) and the draft assets surrendered to acquire him.
“[The Grizzlies] signed that extension before the new second apron rules took effect, and they started viewing that contract less favorably,” a scout noted. “He`s a genuinely good person and player, but I never considered him a max contract player.”
Several teams reportedly inquired about Bane, sources indicated, but none were as aggressive as Orlando.
It`s clear why. Bane is expected to seamlessly fit into the backcourt alongside Jalen Suggs, one of the league`s premier defenders, and provide crucial shooting and shot creation abilities to a roster featuring Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, which desperately needed both.
Why Did Memphis Make the Move?
Grizzlies general manager Zack Kleiman was direct six weeks ago when discussing his team`s contention timeline after Memphis was swept in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I don`t believe we can look back at this series and say, `Oh, we`re close,`” Kleiman told reporters during his end-of-season press conference in Memphis.
“We are not,” he stated.
By trading Bane, who has been a key part of Memphis` core along with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Kleiman is following through on those words.
However, more star trades are not anticipated. Sources informed ESPN that the Grizzlies are not looking to trade either of their remaining franchise cornerstones. The team has spent months creating salary cap flexibility to finalize a renegotiation and extension of Jackson`s contract this offseason, preventing him from entering free agency in 2026. The belief is that an extension will be reached, sources said. The Bane trade also provides Memphis with an avenue to offer Jackson an even more lucrative deal and secure him long-term.
Furthermore, Memphis entrusting the team`s direction to coach Tuomas Iisalo—who favors a fast-paced system emphasizing pick-and-rolls and 3-point shooting—is intended to maximize Morant`s strengths.
The Grizzlies reportedly believe Jaylen Wells, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last season as a second-round pick, can develop into a long-term starter on the wing. Among the package of picks received in the trade, the most appealing is next year`s less favorable pick between Phoenix and Washington—a selection highly likely to fall into the lottery, and potentially even within the top 10 or higher.
Now, the Grizzlies feel they have various options to improve and continue their efforts to compete in the Western Conference. This required taking an immediate step back with the hope of taking two—or more—steps forward in the future.
How Does This Affect the Kevin Durant Trade Situation?
Speaking with several sources Sunday following the Bane deal, the consensus belief is that any draft packages sent to Phoenix in a Durant trade likely won`t surpass the haul of draft picks Memphis received for Bane, a player who has not yet earned an All-Star selection.
“Everyone needs to discard their previous precedents and benchmarks,” said one executive, referring not only to the Bane trade but also the five first-rounders the New York Knicks traded for Mikal Bridges last year as irrelevant to properly valuing Durant.
“Those deals don`t imply Durant is now worth 12 firsts,” they added.
But what is Durant`s true market value? It`s a question league personnel continue to ponder as the situation unfolds.
As ESPN`s Shams Charania reported Saturday night, Durant is open to signing a contract extension with three specific teams: the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat. However, sources around the league continue to discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves as a potential destination for Durant.
What appears certain is that the trade package will be nowhere near the massive return the Brooklyn Nets received for Durant 2½ years ago, a deal finalized within the first 24 hours owner Mat Ishbia took control of the Suns. How Ishbia responds to this disparity will be revealing and could dictate the outcome of this process.
Orlando Sees Opportunity in a New Conference Landscape. How Does This Deal Affect the Rest of the East?
This trade represents just the latest consequence stemming from the devastating Achilles tendon tear suffered by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.
There is strong reason for optimism that Tatum will fully recover after the injury. The surgeon who performed the procedure—Martin O`Malley from New York`s renowned Hospital for Special Surgery—also repaired Durant`s Achilles tear in 2019. However, in the short term, this injury almost certainly removes Boston as the likely dominant force in the East for the 2025-26 season, a position they held for much of the past few years.
This situation has created an opening for teams to capitalize—and Orlando was the first to act.
“For them, they had to give themselves a chance,” one executive commented. “They`ve reached the playoffs for two consecutive years and suffered first-round exits, and they look around and see a young team trying to figure out how to take the next step.
“Theoretically, earlier in the year, you might have included Indiana in their group, believing they couldn`t surpass Cleveland and Boston, who were clearly the top two teams.
“But with Boston effectively out of the picture for next year, it will be fascinating to observe how many teams adopt a win-now strategy because every team will believe they can replicate what Indiana just achieved.”
This move by Orlando could prompt other teams to accelerate their plans this summer. We`ve already seen the Knicks dismiss Tom Thibodeau after losing in the conference finals. The Celtics face considerable uncertainty regarding their roster. The Pistons, following a promising playoff appearance, might create cap space to pursue a high-impact player.
The Philadelphia 76ers, if they can keep their key players on the court, believe they can contend. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who won 64 games, will return their core group. And the ongoing question surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo still looms over Milwaukee.
“The landscape has become much more unpredictable, and owners will perceive it that way,” the executive stated. “But the Magic could still lose in the first round. So could the Knicks. And so could all of these other teams.”
Why the Draft Could Be the Offseason`s Most Crucial Day
One of the four draft picks heading to Memphis in the Bane trade is No. 16 in this month`s NBA draft. With a Kevin Durant trade expected to occur before this year`s draft, sources indicated, some 2025 draft capital is likely to be included.
In an offseason characterized by limited cap space for most teams—the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets are reportedly the only team projected to have significant room, according to ESPN`s Bobby Marks. Coupled with a shallow free agent class, several sources suggested that June 25, the date of the first round of the draft, will be the busiest day of the offseason.
It`s the one moment on the calendar when all teams have a clear opportunity to adjust their rosters and make improvements—potentially their only chance, given the market constraints in the subsequent weeks. With teams looking to shed salary or simply reshape their rosters after a tumultuous few months around the league, there`s no shortage of franchises seeking to make a splash. “It just feels like there will be more activity than even usual,” an executive commented.
Combined with a draft class featuring two apparent top prospects—Cooper Flagg at No. 1 and Dylan Harper at No. 2—and a deep pool of strong potential players, it promises to be a highly entertaining night inside Brooklyn`s Barclays Center.