Michael Redd lauds the Magic for getting Desmond Bane: “Playing it safe does not create championship opportunities” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
In what was a surprise, the Orlando Magic became the first team to make a big move this offseason. The Magic traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a pick swap for Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane.
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While the Magic acquired a solid basketball player in Bane, they were criticized for giving up too much for a guy who has never made an All-Star or All-NBA team in his NBA career. However, while critics continue to gang up on Orlando, former NBA All-Star Michael Redd believes they made the right move in acquiring Desmond.
Not as lopsided as it looked on paper
With how the latest NBA Draft lottery turned out, critics are up in arms after the Magic gave away four first-round picks and a swap for Bane. However, with how they are expected to perform after this new acquisition, most of those first-round picks won’t be as valuable as the Dallas Mavericks’ 12th pick, which became No.1 in the last lottery.
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Two of those picks are Orlando’s – 2028 and 2030, and then there’s the 2029 pick swap. However, with the acquisition of Bane, the Magic have a lineup that is expected to be competitive for at least five years. Paolo Banchero will only be 27 in 2030, and the oldest in the group, Desmond, will only be 32 by then. So, not only are those picks not expected to be the lottery type, but the Magic will also regain control of their destiny while their current stars are still in their primes.
Orlando also gave away the 16th pick of this draft, which is expected to yield a decent player, considering this year’s draft is considered deep. However, it’s still no lottery choice. The selection that could have value is the 2026 first-rounder from Phoenix, but even then, the Suns don’t seem to be going into full rebuild mode.
Sure, the Suns are expected to trade Kevin Durant for future assets and win-now role players. However, unless Devin Booker suffers a season-ending injury next year, it will still likely be an outside-the-lottery first-round pick.
Meanwhile, KCP was their prized signing last year, but he fizzled out and may have had the worst contract on the team, considering his performance. You could argue Anthony was a loss, but even if we combine Kentavious and Cole’s scoring, Desmond still averaged one point more. But that’s not why they brought him in.
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Magic fill a big need with Bane
Orlando ranked dead last in the league in 3-point shooting last season. Bane is a career 41 percent three-point shooter and has never shot below 38.1 percent from deep in his career. He also knocked down 46.9 percent of his wide-open looks last season and should help the Magic space the floor for Banchero and Franz Wagner.
The main reason why the Magic won six fewer games last season than in 2024 was that Banchero suffered an oblique injury very early in the season and went on to miss 34 games. But if they start the next campaign complete, and with Bane, Orlando is expected to contend in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
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“That’s just people that don’t watch basketball,” said podcaster Bill Simmons about people who say that the Magic overpaid to get Bane. “I mean, come on. I would do this in a heartbeat. Three non-lottery picks, it’s the No.16th pick this year, and the Phoenix pick, which is the prize.”
Sure, the Magic overpaid to get Bane. But it’s not as bad as it looks on paper and definitely not as bad as the Knicks’ Package for Mikal Bridges. The move makes a lot of sense for Orlando, and we’ll see why next season.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.