The Memphis Grizzlies got a massive haul in yesterday’s trade of Desmond Bane. The bigger question is what the trade means for the Grizzlies this season and the future.

Memphis traded Bane to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four first-round draft picks. The key for the Grizzlies was the draft picks, including the No. 16 overall selection in the 2025 draft. Getting the No. 16 pick was important for the Grizzlies because they dealt their own pick to Washington as an incentive for the Wizards to take Marcus Smart off their hand.

Among the rest of the draft capital, Memphis will receive a 2026 first-rounder (via Phoenix or Washington). The Grizzlies will also receive a first-round pick in 2028, the swap rights to a first-round draft pick in 2029 (protected in the top two), and a first-round draft pick in 2030. They now have 14 draft picks from 2025-2031, including nine first-rounders.

Memphis Grizzlies In Rebuild Mode, What Is Next After Desmond Bane Trade?

Why did Memphis work out a trade with Orlando for Bane? According to ESPN’s Tim Bontempts, several teams called about the availability of Bane, but the Magic were the most aggressive.

“[The Grizzlies] did that extension before the new second apron rules kicked in, and they were looking at that deal and liking it less,” one scout told Bontempts. “Really good guy, good player, but [I] never thought of him as a max guy.”

Memphis is coming off an injury-plagued 2024-25 season, during which the Grizzlies had to defeat a depleted Dallas Mavericks team to make the 2025 playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder then manhandled the Grizzlies in the first round of the series. The Thunder swept the Grizzlies with an average winning margin of 19.5 points. Granted, the Grizzlies’ incredible 51-point loss in Game 1 of the series was a highly contributing factor to the point differential. The truth is that Memphis was only competitive in six of the 16 quarters the teams played.

Memphis struggled mightily offensively against OKC, especially from beyond the arc. The Grizzlies, who failed to reach the century mark in two of their four games, averaged a playoff-low 100.5 points a game. The Griz were also last in the playoffs in shooting percentage, at 41.5%, and committed an incredible 19 turnovers per contest. They were also second to last with 10.5 treys a game while making them at a 30.4% clip.

Memphis Financials Heading Into 2025-26 Campaign

With the addition of Caldwell-Pope and Anthony, Memphis added $1.7 million to their salary cap for 2025-26. The Grizzlies are still well under the cap, with 12 players under contract and a salary hit of $133.38 million. Caldwell has two years left and $43.2 million remaining on his deal, although the 2026-27 season is a player option. Meanwhile, Anthony also has two years left on his contract, with salaries totaling $26.2 million. Anthony’s 2026-27 salary is a team option.

“This deal gave Memphis some long-term salary flexibility while adding a ton of draft capital for the future, Keith Smith of Sportac said. “The Grizzlies took on a little money for the upcoming season because of adding the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft (more on that in a bit!), but shed significant long-term salary. At most, Caldwell-Pope and Anthony are on the books for about $7 million less than Bane was alone. At best, Memphis could decline the team option it now holds for Anthony for the 2026-27 season, and Caldwell-Pope could opt out for the same season. And that’s before factoring in the $87 million Bane is owed through the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons.”

What Does Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Bring To the Grizzlies

Caldwell-Pope is known as a 3-and-D wing. However, the 32-year-old really struggled offensively and doesn’t provide much on that end unless he is knocking down shots from long distance. After canning at least 38% of his 3-point shots in six of the last seven seasons, Caldwell-Pope connected on only 34% of his attempts in his lone campaign in Orlando.

Overall, KCP compiled his worst year since his rookie season in 2013-14. He averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals this past campaign. He made 1.5 triples with shooting splits of 43.7/34.2/86.3.

Caldwell-Pope is still a great defender and usually gets assigned to the opponent’s top offensive perimeter player. It will be interesting to see how first-year Tuomas Iisalo handles KCP, though the Grizzlies likely aren’t done making moves. Caldwell-Pope has experience coming off the bench, though he has been a starter since the 2020-21 season.

As it stands now, Calwell-Pope projects start in the Grizzlies’ backcourt alongside Ja Morant. Vince Williams Jr., Jaylen Wells, and perhaps Scotty Pippen Jr. are candidates to be Morant’s starting mate.

What About Cole Anthony

Anthony is a high-volume scorer. While the 25-year-old guard has improved his shooting since being taken with the No. 15 pick in 2020, he is not consistent from the perimeter. He is at his best with the ball in his hand as he a great creator with a solid mid-range game.

Anthony, who can put up points in bunches when he is “feeling it,” can get to the hoop and has improved as a finisher. Anthony is also a skilled cutter and enjoys running in transition. He is a solid distributor, though his decision-making and ball-handling skills need improvement.

Anthony is an underrated defender. He definitely has his issues on that end, including his size, but he can be pesky when engaged.

Anthony’s production and rolled with the Magic declined over the last two seasons. The 6-2 point guard is coming off the season of his career, as he averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting  42.4/35.3/82.3. He scored in double-figures 26 times, topping the 20-point mark eight times and the 30-point plateau once.

What Is Next For The Grizzlies?

As stated in the financials, Memphis has plenty of cap space. The Grizzlies’ first decision will be what to do in the draft. They own three picks this year — No. 16, No.48 and No. 56.

One of Memphis’ biggest needs this offseason will be to replace Bane’s nearly 20 points a game. The Grizzlies will likely look for another player maker and will need to add size with Zach Edey slated to miss the beginning of the season. Turnovers and defensive rebounding were also issues for the Grizzlies.

With the Grizzlies picking in the middle of the round, I expect them to go with the best player available. Georgetown center Thomas Sorber, mock draft to the Grizzlies by NBC Sports, makes sense at No. 16. Edey is out for the beginning of the season, and selecting the 19-year-old could help limit the necessity of playing Jaren Jackson Jr. at center.

After the draft, one of the priorities for Memphis will likely be to re-sign restricted free agent Santi Aldama. Aldama has improved in each of his four seasons in the league and is coming off a career season. The 24-year-old averaged 12;5 points, 6.4 boards, and 2.5 assists with shooting splits of 48.3/36.8/69.1. He also produced 10 double-doubles.

Marvin Bagley III, Luke Kennard, and Lamar Stevens are unrestricted free agents. Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal has said that he doesn’t expect any of those three players to return.

Additionally, two-way players Cam Spencer and Yuki Kawamura are restricted free agents. The Grizzlies have been linked to international players TJ Shorts and Nigel Hayes-Davis.

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Extensions
 Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Memphis also has decisions to make this summer on whether to extend several players. Morant, Jackson Jr., Anthony, John Konchar, and Brandon Clarke are extension eligible.

The NBA rumor mill has been swirling since the Bane trade about Morant and Jackson Jr. also being dealt away. However, Bontempts reported that neither Morant nor Jackson Jr. are expected to be traded. In fact, Bontempts said that the Grizzlies are expected to create more room to offer Jackson a massive extension. Jackson is slated to be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

“Sources told ESPN that the Grizzlies are not looking to deal either of their two remaining franchise cornerstones,” wrote Bontempts. “The team has spent the past several months clearing salary cap space to complete a renegotiation and extension of Jackson’s contract this offseason, preventing him from hitting free agency in 2026. The belief is that an extension will get done, sources said.”

Don’t expect Morant to get an extension this summer, as he won’t be on the open market until the summer of 2028. Only time will tell if he will finish his contract in a Grizzlies uniform.  It is also unlikely Anthony or Clarke will receive an extension this summer.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopHype, Memphis may look to trade Konchar. Konchar is a versatile professional guard, but his role with the Grizzlies has shrunk over the last two seasons. He has two years and $12.3 million left on his deal.

In other news, Memphis is reportedly interested in bringing in Jared Dudley as an assistant coach. Dudley has been an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks since retiring from the NBA after the 2020-21 campaign.

Photo Credit: © Petre Thomas, Imagn Images