Magic Make Desmond Bane Announcement After Trade With Grizzlies
Magic Make Desmond Bane Announcement After Trade With Grizzlies originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Orlando Magic stumbled through a roller-coaster 2024–25 regular season, finishing 41–41 and claiming the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, a record forged despite midseason injuries to key rotation players, such as Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
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In the first round, Boston asserted its authority with a commanding 103–86 victory at TD Garden in Game 1 and never looked back, closing out Orlando in five games and exposing the Magic's need for a proven secondary scorer capable of lifting the team in high-pressure moments.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22)Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
A few weeks later, the Orlando Magic acquired sharpshooting guard Desmond Bane, 26, from the Memphis Grizzlies in a massive deal. In exchange, Orlando sent veteran shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks (the 2025 No. 16 overall, 2026 via Phoenix, 2028 and 2030) and a 2029 first-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Moments after the trade was official, the Orlando Magic unveiled Bane's new jersey number.
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'Desmond Bane will wear #3'
Bane spent his first five NBA seasons in Memphis, where he wore No. 22 and emerged as one of the league's most efficient two-way wings. A 2020 first-round pick out of Texas Christian University, he developed into a reliable perimeter threat and versatile defender, helping power the Grizzlies to three playoff appearances.
Across five seasons and 313 regular-season games, Bane averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 41.0 percent from three and 89.4 percent at the free-throw line. In 2024–25, he raised his production to 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals over 69 games—career highs that showcased his two-way growth.
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Desmond Bane's new number marks the beginning of what both he and the Magic hope will be a championship pursuit.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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