Trying to do the math on an NBA trade is tricky. On their face, many trades make no sense to the uninitiated. Sunday was one, when the Magic traded for Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane, sending Memphis four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap this season, point guard Cole Anthony and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
This season, Bane averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game in 32 minutes. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the game, averaging .484 beyond the arc and joins Steph Curry and Zach Lavine as the only players since 2000 with 800 made three-pointers with a make-percentage over 40. Very impressive, but worth four first-rounders and two players, albeit reserves?
According to my cousin, a Magic season-ticket holder, it's a good deal. Bane has four years remaining on his five-year, $197.2-million contract and the starting five will all be 26 or younger. If all goes to plan, the team should be highly competitive in the Eastern Conference, so the first-round picks should be in the mid-20s, decreasing their trade value.
There's nothing quite like an NBA trade, which often requires MENSA membership to decipher, so I'll trust the one who knows.
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THE ASYLUM
Bob Maddamma
6:26 am - 06.16.2025rochester, n.y.Trying to do the math on an NBA trade is tricky. On their face, many trades make no sense to the uninitiated. Sunday was one, when the Magic traded for Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane, sending Memphis four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap this season, point guard Cole Anthony and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
This season, Bane averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game in 32 minutes. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the game, averaging .484 beyond the arc and joins Steph Curry and Zach Lavine as the only players since 2000 with 800 made three-pointers with a make-percentage over 40. Very impressive, but worth four first-rounders and two players, albeit reserves?
According to my cousin, a Magic season-ticket holder, it's a good deal. Bane has four years remaining on his five-year, $197.2-million contract and the starting five will all be 26 or younger. If all goes to plan, the team should be highly competitive in the Eastern Conference, so the first-round picks should be in the mid-20s, decreasing their trade value.
There's nothing quite like an NBA trade, which often requires MENSA membership to decipher, so I'll trust the one who knows.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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