Thoughts On the Desmond Bane Trade

The Grizzlies and the Magic were involved in a pretty big trade yesterday. My Father's Day morning consisted of my son yelling the trade to me from my bedroom. Let’s discuss.

At first glance, I figured the Grizz were going to shed some salary and get off some guys that they didn't need anymore. I figured Santi Aldama or Luke Kennard were going out the door. Maybe they were trading future picks for immediate help. I didn't really know what to think, but I figured they weren't going to give up on their core guys. I was very, very wrong and have found myself more and more upset as the hours pass and the trade is finalized.

The Grizz traded Desmond Bane away. I don't like it. They need his outside shooting and his overall scoring. He held that team afloat two years ago when Ja Morant missed a ton of time. He was the diamond in the rough in that draft and he was doing good things for Memphis. He was also a fan favorite and I truly adored his game and what he brought to the Grizzlies. And now he is gone and he is going to become an instant fan favorite and a key cog to an up and coming Magic team in the East. The Magic got a guy who can shoot from deep, who can create and who is a gamer. Bane will come in and be a great fit next to Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. When they aren't hitting shots, or when they get to the rim and they're tripled teamed, they'll be able to kick the ball to him in the corner and he will make a ton of shots. He is also a good defender who buys in on that end of the floor. And defense is the Magic's calling card. Bane can slide into the 2 guard spot next to Anthony Black. Those two in the backcourt and Banchero, Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr are a pretty formidable starting five, especially in the East. They have a solid bench unit and they can do more damage than they already have to this point. And Bane tends to stay healthy. He missed very few games with the Grizzlies.

In my eyes this is a homerun trade on the Magic's end. They did have to give up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four first round picks. That may sound like a lot, but let me break down why I'm not so thrilled on my end, being a Grizzlies fan. I really like KCP's defense and shot making, when it is working. He had a rough season last year. I get it, he wanted to get paid and wanted a bigger role and the Magic were more than happy to oblige. But he wasn't getting the open looks and his defense suffered due to more usage on offense. He is older too. I like his presence on the Grizz, but he may be on the back end of his career. I have liked Cole Anthony since his one year at UNC, but he is what he is going to be in the NBA. At best, he is a role playing bench guy. I don't see much of a difference from him when comparing him to Kennard, without the outside shooting but better defense. Anthony can get to the rim, but he isn't an outside shooter. He tries hard on defense, but he gets beat up by bigger guards. He plays with reckless abandon, which I do like, but I don't see him contributing more than energy for this team. The four first round picks look great on paper. Anytime you can get that many picks you almost have to take it. But the Magic are on an upswing. They're a perennial play-in/playoff team at this point. They aren't the Magic of the mid 2010's anymore. They are a good basketball team that will win more than expected because they play in the East. So, while the picks seem nice, they will most likely be late first round picks unless someone key gets hurt for the Magic, and I don't wish that on any team. The Grizz can draft better than a lot of teams, but late first round picks don't always turn out like Desmond Bane. That is going to be hard to recreate.

Looking at all this with a more cynical eye, I feel like the Grizz aren't done yet, and that bums me out even more. I don't think Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr will be on the team next season. If I had to bet, I'd say they let JJJ go. If they do, they better get an absolute haul. I have read rumors about Trae Young, and I want an even bigger fish. And, Young and Morant would be a total zero on defense. If the Grizz are truly moving on from this core, and it seems likely, they need to do it right. I don't want them to fully bottom out. I don't want them to start over. I still have faith in Morant's on court ability, but they need to go about this all very carefully in the front office. I'm not thrilled about them letting Bane go and I'm curious to see what will happen next. I will be watching their offseason even closer now. As for the Magic, they did a good job addressing a need and not having to give up anything super important. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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