<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-tyus-jones-contract-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic add Tyus Jones on $7 million contract after Desmond Bane trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1743.jpeg"><figcaption>John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic add Tyus Jones on $7 million contract after Desmond Bane trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T17:49:24-07:00">June 30th, 5:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T17:49:24-07:00">June 30th, 5:49pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-contract-decisions-moe-wagner-caleb-houstan">Orlando Magic started off their offseason moves</a> before the NBA Finals were even over when they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-chris-broussard-contender-claim-desmond-bane-trade">acquired Desmond Bane in a trade</a> with the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade was a move towards becoming a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. And with the NBA free agency negotiation period beginning on Monday, the Magic made another big move with veteran point guard Tyus Jones.</p><p>The Magic and Tyus Jones <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1939841570427076949" rel="noopener">agreed to a contract</a> in free agency for one year and worth $7 million, as per ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel. Jones spent last season with the Phoenix Suns after signing as a free agent in the offseason. The No. 24 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jones has long been considered one of the best backup point guards in the NBA.</p><p>Last season, Jones’ role with the Suns was split between starting and coming off the bench. He appeared in 81 games, including 58 starts, at a little over 26 minutes per game. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists with splits of 44.8 percent shooting from the field, 41.4 percent shooting from the three-point line and 89.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Now entering his 11th season in the NBA, Jones began his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves after they acquired his rights via a draft day trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jones played the first four seasons of his career with the Wolves before signing as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies. His Grizzlies stint spanned four seasons as well. Jones also played one season for the Washington Wizards after being traded by the Grizzlies ahead of the 2023-24 season.</p><p>He will now help a Magic team looking to move into the upper-echelon in the Eastern Conference. His role will likely be the primary backup point guard to Jalen Suggs. This past season, the Magic finished with the seventh seed in the East after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in. They were eventually eliminated in the opening round of the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic add Tyus Jones on $7 million contract after Desmond Bane trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/nba-rumors-magic-interested-signing-desmond-banes-ex-grizzlies-teammate');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane’s ex-Grizzlies teammate');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-and-Tyus-Jones.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane’s ex-Grizzlies teammate</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T17:33:12-07:00">June 29th, 5:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T17:33:12-07:00">June 29th, 5:33pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It looks like the Orlando Magic don’t have a problem going all in this offseason, and they’re prepared to make a run in the Eastern Conference for years to come. Their first order of business was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, and he’ll add another dynamic to the team that has been missing.</p><p>The Magic added talent throughout the draft in both rounds, and it’s evident that they’re trying to stay young while also competing. Free agency is next, and the next line of business is adding more depth behind the starting lineup. After trading away Cole Anthony, backup guard is a need for the team, and there are rumors they <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/chris-pauls-looming-free-agency-with?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167117215&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">may be interested</a> in one of Bane’s former teammates, according to Jake Fischer.</p><p>“Sources say that the Orlando Magic are among the teams to express interest in Jones, who played alongside new Magic marquee acquisition Desmond Bane for three seasons in Memphis. Bane posted on Twitter in April 2024 that ‘doors [are] always open’ for a reunification with Jones,” Fischer wrote.</p><p>Jones has been a solid backup and starter in his career, as he just spent time with the Phoenix Suns last season. He was solid in his role, but with the up-and-down season that they had, he wasn’t able to fully flourish. With the Magic, he may be able to thrive in their offense and be a key part of the bench.</p><h2><b>Magic making roster moves ahead of free agency</b></h2><p>The Magic recently made some decisions on some of their key players, as they’ve <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-contract-decisions-moe-wagner-caleb-houstan">declined the team options on Moritz Wagner</a> and Caleb Houstan. Wagner, who is the brother of Franz Wagner, was having one of his best seasons of his career before tearing his ACL during the year.</p><p>For Houstan, he’s been with the Magic for three seasons but has only appeared in 168 total games and averaged 4.1 points per outing. He shot a career-high 40.1 percent from the 3-point line in the 2024-2025 season, and only reached double figures just eight times this year.</p><p>It’s not certain if the Magic will let both players walk or will they re-sign them to different deals, but the team has shown that they are looking to make an upgrade wherever they can. With the Eastern Conference looking open for the taking next season, the Magic are pushing all their chips to the front.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane’s ex-Grizzlies teammate

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-desmond-bane-shares-tyrese-haliburton-injury-update-after-text-exchange');   ga('set', 'title', 'Desmond Bane shares Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton injury update after text exchange');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Pacers-Tyrese-Haliburton-sets-up-the-offense-.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Desmond Bane shares Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton injury update after text exchange</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T14:34:44-07:00">June 29th, 2:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T14:34:44-07:00">June 29th, 2:34pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Indiana Pacers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-tyrese-haliburton-achilles-injury-confirmed-father">Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury</a> in the NBA Finals that shattered the team’s chances at the franchise’s first championship, it was no doubt a saddening event for the basketball world. As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-heartfelt-message-indy-fans-after-achilles-surgery">Haliburton would assure Pacers fans</a> that he will be ready to come back hungrier than ever, we also get a more recent update from Desmond Bane.</p><p>The new Orlando Magic star had been in the building for Game 7 when Haliburton suffered the injury in the first quarter of the contest. He would be on “The Zach Lowe Show” and mentioned how he’s been texting Haliburton about life and mentioned how the point guard was in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WG3eRcl8mw&amp;t=4562s" rel="noopener">“decent spirits.”</a></p><p>“I was actually texting with him this morning, just more so about life than anything,” Bane said. “And yeah it was hard to tell because when it’s live it’s hard to pickup on the small nuances of what’s going on and things like that but you know once you saw him not getting up off the floor and the way the team and trainers and things like that were reacting you could tell it was something serious. I was just hoping for the best for him. You know, he seems like he’s in decent spirits. I’m sure he’s going to attack this rehab and get back and be better.”</p><h2><b>Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton proclaims he’ll be back stronger</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Tyrese-Haliburton-after-his-Game-7-injury.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-brian-windhorst-reveals-tyrese-haliburton-won-despite-nba-finals-loss">Pacers look to bounce back after the NBA Finals loss</a>, there’s no doubt that Haliburton will be out for a good portion of next season due to the severity of a typical Achilles injury. Haliburton would take to social media and strongly proclaim that he will <a href="https://x.com/tyhaliburton22/status/1937344254507978938?s=46&amp;t=vnLDgTn4yNZudl1UzUUjJA" rel="noopener">“do everything in my power”</a> to return better than ever.</p><p>“I think Kobe [Bryant] said it best when in this same situation,” Haliburton continued. ‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world than a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.’ And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.</p><p>Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… <a href="https://t.co/UyY0iFEp6Z">pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z</a></p><p>— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) <a href="https://twitter.com/TyHaliburton22/status/1937344254507978938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>It remains to be seen what a clear timetable looks like for Haliburton’s recovery.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Desmond Bane shares Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton injury update after text exchange

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-gm-admits-desmond-bane-trade-great-magic');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies GM admits Desmond Bane trade is ‘great’ for Magic');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Grizzlies GM admits Desmond Bane trade is ‘great’ for Magic</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-25T23:12:34-07:00">June 25th, 11:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-25T23:12:34-07:00">June 25th, 11:12pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">Memphis Grizzlies kicked off their 2025 offseason with a seismic trade</a>, sending star guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and multiple draft picks. The move, <a href="https://x.com/DrewHill_DM/status/1938080726785699920" rel="noopener">though controversial</a> among Grizzlies fans, was acknowledged by general manager Zach Kleiman as a significant gain for Orlando.</p><p>“I think it’s a great trade for Orlando. I hope it will be a win-win over time,” Kleiman said during his first public comments following the trade, via Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian.</p><p>He cited financial constraints under the new CBA’s first and second apron restrictions as a major factor in moving Bane. With Jaren Jackson Jr. due for a contract extension, retaining both Jackson and Bane would have likely pushed the Grizzlies into an unsustainable cap situation, with three players potentially earning over $40 million annually.</p><p>Bane’s departure left a notable void on the roster, and Memphis acted swiftly to address it. Initially holding the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies traded up to No. 11 in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. In exchange for the higher pick, Memphis sent Portland the rights to Yang Hansen (No. 16), a future first-rounder, and two future second-round picks.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-memphis-cedric-coward-no-11-pick-trade-blazers">With the 11th pick, the Grizzlies selected Cedric Coward</a>, a 6-foot-5 wing from Washington State. Despite a limited sample size, just six games due to injury, Coward posted impressive averages of 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. He also shot 55.7% from the field, 40.0% from 3, and 83.9% from the free-throw line. Prior to transferring, Coward was named to the 2023–24 All-Big Sky First Team and NABC All-District 6 First Team at Eastern Washington.</p><p>Coward is viewed as a high-upside replacement for Desmond Bane, especially given his three-point shooting ability and defensive potential. He possesses a 7-foot-2 wingspan and demonstrated the athleticism to guard multiple positions.</p><p>With Coward joining promising rookie Jaylen Wells on the wing, the Grizzlies are leaning into a younger core to support Morant and Jackson Jr. Memphis still holds the 48th and 56th picks in the second round of the draft, leaving the door open for further roster changes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies GM admits Desmond Bane trade is ‘great’ for Magic

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-makes-leadership-change-after-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic make bombshell leadership change after Desmond Bane trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jeff-Weltman-talks-with-media-as-he-is-introduced-the-new-head-coach.jpg"><figcaption>© Kim Klement-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic make bombshell leadership change after Desmond Bane trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-25T07:45:36-07:00">June 25th, 7:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-25T07:45:36-07:00">June 25th, 7:45am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic announced a <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-announce-new-leadership-structure-news-20250625" rel="noopener">major leadership restructure</a> Wednesday morning, marking another significant shift in what has already been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-launch-new-era-with-throwback-style-jerseys-for-2025-26-season">a transformative offseason</a>. Following last week’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-demarcus-cousins-explains-luka-doncic-reason-orlando-overpaid-desmond-bane">blockbuster trade to acquire Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, the franchise has now turned its focus inward, appointing new roles and responsibilities within the organization just hours before the 2025 NBA Draft.</p><p>The most notable change involves longtime Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins, who will transition into the newly created position of Vice Chair effective July 1. In this senior advisory role, Martins will work closely with the Magic Board of Directors, advancing long-term strategic initiatives and acting as a resource to the franchise’s executive leadership.</p><p>“Since joining the team in 1989, Alex’s commitment to excellence has distinguished him as an extraordinary leader in our organization and the Orlando community,” said Magic Chairman Dan DeVos in an official statement. “When Alex communicated his intention to retire several years ago, our family decided to create a new role leveraging his experience.”</p><p>Martins, who has served as CEO since 2010, expressed gratitude for his tenure and confidence in the organization’s direction.</p><p>“It has been an honor leading the Magic alongside the DeVos family, and I welcome the opportunity to continue working closely together in this new role,” Martins said. “Leading the Magic as CEO has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.”</p><h2><b>Magic restructure leadership as Freeman, Ryan DeVos, and Weltman take on expanded roles</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-says-Magic-need-to-follow-the-Knicks-model.jpg"><figcaption>© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The role of CEO will not be filled, as the Magic restructure their executive leadership model. Charlie Freeman, currently President of Business Operations, will now lead all business functions for the franchise. Freeman, entering his 30th season with the Magic, will oversee departments including personnel, ticket sales, global partnerships, arena operations, philanthropy, finance, human resources, communications, and broadcasting. He will report directly to the Magic Board of Directors.</p><p>“Charlie is a skilled and strategic leader in whom we have tremendous trust,” said DeVos. “With his deep expertise in business operations, our family is confident he is the right leader for this time in our organization.”</p><p>Increased involvement from the DeVos family’s third generation was also highlighted in the announcement. Ryan DeVos will take on an expanded role as Managing Director, working closely with Freeman, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, and the Board of Directors. His responsibilities will focus on aligning the organization with family values, strengthening community ties, and supporting both basketball and business operations.</p><p>Cole DeVos is set to relocate to Orlando for the 2025–26 season, where he will participate in a full-time management development program to deepen his role within the franchise.</p><p>Weltman will continue to oversee all basketball-related matters, reporting directly to the Board.</p><p>These leadership changes follow a series of high-impact moves by the organization, including a rebrand and the acquisition of Desmond Bane in a deal with Memphis. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/orlando-magics-nightmare-outcome-for-2025-nba-draft">franchise now shifts its focus to the 2025 NBA Draft</a>, scheduled for Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Magic currently hold the No. 25 overall pick and two second-round selections (Nos. 46 and 57).</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic make bombshell leadership change after Desmond Bane trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-rumors-memphis-jaren-jackson-jr-focus-after-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies rumors: Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. ‘focus’ after Desmond Bane trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Featured-image-Grizzlies-JJJ.jpg"></figure><h1>Grizzlies rumors: Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. ‘focus’ after Desmond Bane trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-22T10:12:33-07:00">June 22nd, 10:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-22T10:12:33-07:00">June 22nd, 10:12am</time><address><a>Dylan Fine</a>Dylan Fine focuses on the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints, in addition to working on the meme team. Dylan is a graduate of Georgetown University and has covered various topics ranging from local politics in the DMV region with DC Voter For Animals to live sporting events in the Long Island and Rochester areas with The Southampton Press and Pickin’Splinters. When he isn't working, he's usually running in preparation for the next annual Turkey Trot.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Grizzlies are heading into the offseason with one clear goal in mind, and it involves Jaren Jackson Jr. The front office made the stunning decision this offseason to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic</a>. Memphis received a significant haul in return, including two quality role players in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a future first-round pick swap in the deal.</p><p>While there was some <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-rumors-kevin-oconnor-full-blow-up-2-blockbuster-trades">initial belief that the Grizzlies might be starting over</a> with this move, it’s becoming very clear that the Bane trade was the franchise retooling its roster around franchise cornerstones Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. In particular, the Grizzlies’ star big man has only one more year left on his current deal. And based on a recent update given by senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Memphis’ primary focus this offseason will be to reach a contract extension with the two-time All-Star.</p><p>As for the other, pivotal moves this franchise will make this offseason, Fischer <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-on-jonathan-kuminga-much?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=166476652&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">further details</a> why the Grizzlies, especially heading into the NBA Draft, are somewhat of an enigma.</p><p>“The Grizzlies rank as real wildcards that suddenly find themselves operating in the middle of the first round. That means playing catch-up on bringing draft prospects to town since Memphis acquired that No. 16 pick from the Magic in the Desmond Bane blockbuster that shook the whole league on Father’s Day. That section of the draft is so fluid as is, with numerous teams — starting with Toronto at No. 9 — seemingly open to fielding trade offers once they come on the clock. The word on the Grizzlies, at this juncture, is that it wouldn’t be a surprise if they moved in either direction.</p><p>They have been one of the more active teams in recent drafts regarding trading up, down, or out of the first round, depending on circumstances. What we know for certain about the Grizz: Sources say that Memphis, in the wake of the Bane trade, is focused on preserving as much financial flexibility as possible to renegotiate-and-extend the contract of star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. as well as fending off external interest in restricted free agent Santi Aldama.”</p><p>Memphis is coming off an uneven season that saw the franchise <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-taylor-jenkins-part-ways">move on from head coach Taylor Jenkins</a>. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both entering their respective primes, meaning that the front office certainly expects this team to be a significant player in the Western Conference for years to come. Clearly, the Grizzlies believed there was a limited ceiling to the Morant, Jackson Jr., and Bane trio, and instead, the front office is choosing to fill out the rest of its roster with this trade</p><p>Overall, Jackson Jr.’s missing an All-NBA team does not make him eligible for the supermax extension. Therefore, the Grizzlies will have the financial flexibility to continue building a competent supporting cast around the star forward and Durant for the foreseeable future. It’ll be interesting to see how many of these picks from the Bane trade the franchise uses.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies rumors: Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. ‘focus’ after Desmond Bane trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-demarcus-cousins-explains-luka-doncic-reason-orlando-overpaid-desmond-bane');   ga('set', 'title', 'DeMarcus Cousins explains the Luka Doncic reason why Magic overpaid for Desmond Bane');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-drives-to-the-basket-as-Los-Angeles-Lakers-guard-Luka-Doncic-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>DeMarcus Cousins explains the Luka Doncic reason why Magic overpaid for Desmond Bane</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-21T11:38:35-07:00">June 21st, 11:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-21T11:42:06-07:00">June 21st, 11:42am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins believes the Orlando Magic <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1936239831304331522" rel="noopener">overpaid</a> to acquire <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-draymond-green-reaction-to-desmond-bane-trade">Desmond Bane in their Father’s Day blockbuster trade with the Memphis Grizzlies</a> — and cited Luka Doncic’s trade value as the main reason why.</p><p>Speaking on the latest episode of FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, Cousins compared the assets surrendered for Bane to what the Los Angeles Lakers gave up in order to acquire Doncic midseason.</p><p>“You look at a guy like Desmond Bane and then you look at a guy like Luka Doncic. That answers your question right there,” Cousins said. “Hell no, he’s not worth [it]. If Luka’s only worth one first-round pick and this guy’s worth four… we’re talking about an All-NBA, multi-All-Star type player compared to a guy that’s just a really, really good player.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-mavericks-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-trade">Doncic, 26, was traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster February deal</a> that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic went on to average 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals across 50 games for the Lakers while shooting 45% from the field and 36.8% from three.</p><h2><b>DeMarcus Cousins says Magic overpaid for Desmond Bane when compared to Luka Doncic deal</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Banes-message-to-fans-after-trade.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-kcp-reaction-to-being-included-in-desmond-bane-trade-grizzlies">Magic, in comparison, sent Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a>, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap to Memphis in exchange for Bane. The 26-year-old guard averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists last season on 48.4% shooting from the field and 39.2% from three.</p><p>Despite his view that Orlando overpaid, Cousins praised the move as one that addresses the Magic’s roster needs and praised Bane as a fit for their young core.</p><p>“So obviously, the picks don’t add up when you look at it in that way,” Cousins said. “But like I said earlier… we’re at the stage in the league where teams matter, camaraderie matters, chemistry matters…. he’s the perfect fit moving forward with this Magic team.”</p><p>“I do still think they need a really good point guard,” he added. “I do like [Jalen] Suggs, but I still think they need like an elite point guard. But I absolutely love what the Magic did with this move. I think they improved as a team… they improved with a need for that team and Bane was the perfect fit.”</p><h2><b>Cousins says Bane move pushes Orlando into East’s top tier</b></h2><p>The Magic finished the 2024–25 season with a 41–41 record, securing the seventh seed and making their second consecutive playoff appearance, despite significant injury setbacks. They <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-simple-mic-drop-after-perfect-trade">faced off against the Boston Celtics in the first round and were eliminated</a> in a competitive five-game series. This season followed a 47–35 campaign in 2023–24, when Orlando earned the fifth seed, highlighted by strong defense and the emergence of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.</p><p>When asked by co-host Chandler Parsons where the Magic now rank among the East’s top teams, Cousins responded with optimism.</p><p>“I think they moving to the top four, top five in the East,” Cousins said. “I think they were a good team last year, but like I said, they had some needs they needed to fill and I think Bane was the perfect fit for that.”</p><p>“So yeah, I think they’re a very dangerous team in the East now and I think they can challenge some teams. I think they make a big move, a big splash next season and maybe a second-round type team or further.”</p><p>The Magic’s acquisition of Bane not only signals their desire to compete now but also reflects a growing confidence in their core. Whether or not the price was high, the organization appears committed to turning potential into playoff success.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

DeMarcus Cousins explains the Luka Doncic reason why Magic overpaid for Desmond Bane

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-draymond-green-reaction-to-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Draymond Green’s brutally honest reaction to Desmond Bane-Magic trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-22-dribbles-against-Golden-State-Warriors-forward-Draymond-Green-23.jpg"><figcaption>© David Gonzales-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Draymond Green’s brutally honest reaction to Desmond Bane-Magic trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-21T08:46:33-07:00">June 21st, 8:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-21T08:46:33-07:00">June 21st, 8:46am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green didn’t hold back when reacting to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-simple-mic-drop-after-perfect-trade">Orlando Magic’s blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane</a>, calling the price “a lot” while <a href="https://youtu.be/MUkl63qqsCw?si=jmGvc9WE4stIrvWD" rel="noopener">offering insight</a> into why the deal may still make sense.</p><p>On the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, joined by former NBA guard Baron Davis, Green addressed the Father’s Day trade that sent Bane from the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-kcp-reaction-to-being-included-in-desmond-bane-trade-grizzlies">Memphis Grizzlies to the Magic in exchange for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a>, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap.</p><p>“Four unprotected first round picks and a pick swap, that’s a lot,” Green said. “So, when I saw the trade I was like, man, that’s a lot — and I like Bane.”</p><p>Green referenced a quote attributed to Orlando general manager Anthony Parker, who reportedly said that if someone went into a lab to build a basketball player, they would build Desmond Bane. Green pushed back on that notion.</p><p>“I saw that quote… and I said, ‘oh, okay. That’s why he gave up so much,’” Green said. “But if I go into the lab and create a basketball player, I’m going to create Kevin Durant or LeBron James or like a 6’6” dude with Steph Curry’s jumpshot.”</p><p>“Desmond Bane is 6’5” with a 6’4” wingspan or 6’2” wingspan or something of that nature,” Green continued. “I’m not going into the lab and creating Desmond Bane, with all due respect… I’m not going to create a basketball player with short arms.”</p><h2><b>Draymond Green sees Desmond Bane deal as Magic’s push to win now in wide-open NBA</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-22-handles-the-ball-as-Golden-State-Warriors-forward-Draymond-Green-23-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite his critique, Green said the trade made strategic sense from Orlando’s perspective.</p><p>“It made complete sense to me as to why they made that move,” he said. “I don’t know this to be factual, but my guess is they’ve been looking for a point guard. My guess is they called on Ja [Morant], and Memphis somehow curved the conversation back to Desmond Bane.”</p><p>Green viewed the deal as a signal of belief in Orlando’s rising core of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.</p><p>“They’re saying, ‘we believe in Paolo, we believe in Franz, and we’re going to put someone around them with shooting to take pressure off them,’” he said. “That’s what the move signals to me. And I agree with it. They think the league is wide open, and right now is the time to take your shot.”</p><p>That belief aligns with a league climate defined by its growing parity. The NBA has not had a back-to-back champion since the Warriors won consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018. No team has made consecutive Finals appearances since the Warriors’ last run in 2019.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-stephen-a-smith-makes-thriller-game-7-finals-prediction">2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers</a> will conclude with a Game 7 on Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET — the first Finals Game 7 since 2016.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Draymond Green’s brutally honest reaction to Desmond Bane-Magic trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-kcp-reaction-to-being-included-in-desmond-bane-trade-grizzlies');   ga('set', 'title', 'KCP’s ‘excited’ reaction to being included in Desmond Bane-Magic trade to Grizzlies');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope-shoots-as-Memphis-Grizzlies-guard-Desmond-Bane-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>KCP’s ‘excited’ reaction to being included in Desmond Bane-Magic trade to Grizzlies</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-20T11:48:18-07:00">June 20th, 11:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-20T14:03:41-07:00">June 20th, 2:03pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is looking ahead with optimism after being dealt to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade that sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic</a> on Father’s Day.</p><p>The 32-year-old veteran guard addressed the trade on the latest episode of Dawg Talk with J Mac and Kenny Gaines, revealing that while the news came during a family vacation, his initial surprise eventually gave way to <a href="https://x.com/HunchoHoops/status/1936115403056402526" rel="noopener">excitement</a> about joining Memphis.</p><p>“I knew before everybody, it wasn’t really breaking news for me, but it happened Father’s Day,” Caldwell-Pope said. “I’m on vacation with my family… it’s literally about 11:30–11:35, almost noon, and I’m going to get something out of my bag, and my phone is vibrating, but I don’t get to it in time.”</p><p>“So I’m checking, and it’s my agent – he never calls me multiple times, so it’s literally like three to four times, like damn, let me get to my phone and call him back. As soon as I call, you just got traded to the Grizzlies… quick shock because it kinda hit me right there like, damn, it’s Father’s Day. I didn’t want to get this type of news; we could’ve at least waited until Monday.”</p><h2><b>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope says trade from Magic to Grizzlies was emotional but exciting</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope-3-embraces-Orlando-Magic-guard-Jalen-Suggs-4-after-scoring.jpg"><figcaption>John Jones-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Caldwell-Pope admitted the timing made it difficult to process at first, especially when it came to informing his family. But as he reflected on the trade and the Grizzlies’ direction, he felt confident in the fit.</p><p>“The more I thought about it, the more excited I got about it, even though I was a little sad because it happened on Father’s Day,” he said.</p><p>“I know this game; I know this business, but the more I thought about the trade, the team that I was going to, the players I was going to be playing with – I know some of the guys – and then the way the organization is trying to go, I felt like I fit right in. I got super excited.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-simple-mic-drop-after-perfect-trade">Caldwell-Pope was acquired alongside Cole Anthony</a> in exchange for Desmond Bane, who was sent to the Magic for four unprotected first-round picks and one pick swap.</p><p>The Grizzlies are coming off a challenging 2024–25 season that ended in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/3-memphis-grizzlies-most-to-blame-for-thunder-sweep-to-complete-season-collapse">first-round sweep at the hands of the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder</a>. Star guard Ja Morant was injured during the series, further compounding Memphis’ postseason struggles.</p><p>Caldwell-Pope joins a Memphis roster aiming to retool around a healthy core and return to contention. The former NBA champion is entering his 13th season after spending one year with Orlando, where he averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.</p><p>He appeared in 77 games, shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range across 29.6 minutes per night.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">Signed to a three-year, $66 million deal last offseason</a>, Caldwell-Pope brings perimeter defense, veteran experience, and playoff pedigree to a Grizzlies team looking to rebound after a difficult year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

KCP’s ‘excited’ reaction to being included in Desmond Bane-Magic trade to Grizzlies

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-invite-desmond-bane-replacements-private-2025-nba-draft-workout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies invite Desmond Bane replacements for private NBA Draft workout');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-replacements-invited-for-private-NBA-Draft-workouts.jpg"></figure><h1>Grizzlies invite Desmond Bane replacements for private NBA Draft workout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-20T09:46:59-07:00">June 20th, 9:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-20T09:46:59-07:00">June 20th, 9:46am</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-perfect-outcome-no-16-pick-2025-nba-draft">Memphis Grizzlies are leaving no stone unturned</a> as they prepare for the 2025 NBA Draft, currently holding the 16th and 48th picks. Thankfully, EVP/GM Zach Kleiman has shown a knack for uncovering useful talent outside of the NBA Draft lottery lately. Santi Aldama, John Konchar, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer, Trey Jemison, Jake LaRavia, and Vince Williams Jr. have provided a great return on the initial investment. Nine new names, led by LJ Cryer and Kobe Sanders, are in the mix to join the organization this summer, <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/2025-nba-draft-workout-tracker-where-are-prospects-working-out/">according to multiple reports</a>.</p><p>Bo Montgomery (UNC Wilmington), Paul Zilinskas (Indiana-Indianapolis), Ethan Taylor (Air Force), LJ Cryer (Houston), and Kobe Sanders (Nevada) were among the ballhandlers brought in for a better look. These players, most of whom are not projected to see their names on NBA Draft selection sheets, represent the kind of high-upside, low-risk bets that could eventually bolster an already youthful and dynamic Grizzlies roster.</p><p>LJ Cryer and Kobe Sanders seem like the best bets to get a shot on the NBA Summer League stage. Both have skills that would translate to the G-League well and could eventually add to Tuomas Iisalo’s bench depth. The Grizzlies are not alone in liking these two prospects either. The Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs are also showing interest.</p><h2><b>Silky smooth Kobe Sanders</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kobe-Sanders-Grizzlies-visit.jpg"><figcaption>RGJ/Andy Barron / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><p>The silky smooth Kobe Sanders has the kind of skillset that would shine on the NBA Summer League stage. He just flows like that as a 6-foot-9 prospect with a quick first step; Las Vegas usually makes certain prototype athletes look good, if the shot is falling. Making that magic work through training camp and the G League grind would be worth millions in found money for all involved.</p><p>Sanders averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds on 46% shooting from the field (35% 3PA) as perhaps the NCAA’s tallest pure point guard last season. Yes, Nevada put Sanders on the ball and let him pick apart defenses. Getting that <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/meet-kobe-sanders-a-sleeper-first-round-pick-in-2025-nba-draft/" rel="noopener">freedom and responsibility was invaluable</a> for the late-spouting Sanders.</p><p>“As a freshman, I was trying to play defense and hit shots. Sophomore year, I became more of a defensive guy. Junior year is when I really took the helm. I ran the offense, was the leader, facilitator, and point guard. My senior year, I did everything. I was the main scorer, facilitator, playmaker,” Sander explained. “As you develop, coaches ask for different things, and I adjusted.”</p><p>“I was blessed to have a coach who believed in me, Coach John Smith,” added Sanders. “We spent a lot of time talking and watching film. That helped me develop and play at a high level. Then I was blessed to go to Nevada, where I ran point most of the year until late-season injuries changed things.”</p><p>Peeking over defenders for pick-and-roll reads or finding the skip pass comes naturally. Assists went up, turnovers trended down with experience. Sanders has made great strides from the free-throw line as well, suggesting a 38% three-point mark is a reasonable expectation. Defensive intensity and size are not a problem, but his shiftiness on both ends of the floor looks to be a step slow. The lack of muscle is concerning given the NBA’s muscle and 82-game slog.</p><p>Smart cuts in Tuomas Iisalo’s schemes are more important than straight-line speed. Unfortunately, he has not been asked to be an off-ball cutter and will turn 23 soon. Creating shots comes easily, but the form is a bit funky; too many attempts are off the mark. There is too much variance in his fundamentals and it shows in the shooting percentages.</p><p>Keeping a pass-first mentality will help Kobe Sanders survive the draft process and stick with the Grizzlies. Going all-in on individual buckets is more likely to land the Nevada star in Europe.</p><h2><b>Grizzlies keep LJ Cryer close</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LJ-Cryer.jpg"><figcaption>Amy Kontras-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>LJ Cryer (Houston) is a Final Four championship-game certified point guard who could take Yuki Kawamura’s two-way spot in leading the G-League’s Memphis Hustle. Cryer is also a compact, scoring-first point guard with a knack for creating highlight passes. At 6-foot-1 with a quick release, the 23-year-old thrives as a long-range shooter, boasting a 42.4% three-point percentage last season.</p><p>Averaging only a single turnover per game for multiple seasons is a calling card that scouts will care about. Hitting over 90% from the free-throw line at Houston is also highly encouraging, especially if expected to slot into the Desmond Bane role. LJ Cryer’s ability to pull up off the dribble and navigate pick-and-roll situations makes him a potential spark plug off the bench. However, his smaller frame and limited playmaking vision raise concerns about his defensive impact and ability to run an NBA offense.</p><p>Casual skeptics argue that being an undersized off-ball option may limit Cryer’s defensive versatility against larger NBA guards. Scouts all see the excellent scoring ability, particularly from beyond the arc, with a quick release and shot-creation skills. Experience in high-pressure games, including leading Houston in scoring during the NCAA Tournament, showcased Cryer’s clutch gene.</p><p>Modest assist numbers suggest Cryer is more of a scorer than a playmaker, yet the competitive drive would be fun to watch in a battle with Scotty Pippen Jr. The Grizzlies could always utilize another microwave scorer off the bench. The consensus seems to be clear in most. Having LJ Cryer’s winning pedigree and sharpshooting in the building could help the Grizzlies survive the Western Conference gauntlet next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies invite Desmond Bane replacements for private NBA Draft workout

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-nick-wright-predicts-austin-reaves-trade-value-after-desmond-bane');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers rumors: Nick Wright predicts Austin Reaves’ trade value after Desmond Bane deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-22-defends-Los-Angeles-Lakers-guard-Austin-Reaves-15-in-the-first-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers rumors: Nick Wright predicts Austin Reaves’ trade value after Desmond Bane deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T10:30:20-07:00">June 19th, 10:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T10:31:17-07:00">June 19th, 10:31am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In the wake of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-simple-mic-drop-after-perfect-trade">Desmond Bane’s blockbuster trade to the Orlando Magic</a>, sports analyst Nick Wright has <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935575749102305405" rel="noopener">raised questions</a> about how the deal could reset the trade market for players like Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves.</p><p>On the latest episode of What’s Wright? with Nick Wright, the FOX Sports host evaluated whether the Lakers could use Reaves in a multi-team trade to address their ongoing need at center, using Bane’s trade package as a benchmark.</p><p>“If Desmond Bane is worth four first rounders,” Wright said, “then is the Lakers real path to getting a center a three-team trade where Utah doesn’t want Austin Reaves because they don’t want to compete yet… but you flip Austin Reaves to a team that does want him and has a bunch of picks. Those picks go to Utah and Walker Kessler goes to the Lakers.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“If Desmond Bane’s worth 4 first-round picks, is Austin Reaves worth 3 and a half first-round picks?”</p><p>Nick Wright discusses whether Trading Austin Reaves could benefit the Lakers and their search for a center 👀</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/WhatsWrightShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhatsWrightShow</a>)<br><a href="https://t.co/4x8AOona0i">pic.twitter.com/4x8AOona0i</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935575749102305405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Wright continued, proposing a framework that puts Reaves’ value just below Bane’s, but ahead of many other non-All-Star level contributors.</p><p>“If Desmond Bane’s worth four first round picks, is Austin Reaves worth three and a half first round picks?” Wright asked. “If Mikal Bridges goes for five firsts and Bane goes for four firsts then the price of controlled quality top-50, but not top-25 players has been set.”</p><h2><b>Lakers may leverage Austin Reaves’ value after blockbuster Desmond Bane trade reshapes market</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/743156283-austin-reaves-jazz.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-lakers-linked-to-another-jazz-trade-besides-walker-kessler">Lakers have long been linked to potential center upgrades, and Walker Kessler</a> of the Utah Jazz has emerged as a frequent trade target. A 7-footer known for his rim protection and rebounding, Kessler fits the mold of a starting-caliber big man that the Lakers reportedly want to pair with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.</p><p>Reaves, 27, is coming off a career-best season in his fourth year with the Lakers. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while playing 34.9 minutes per game across 73 appearances. He shot 46% from the field and 37.7% from three, continuing to build on the breakout stretch he had in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.</p><p>Reaves is under contract for $13.9 million for the 2025–26 season and holds a player option for the 2026–27 season worth $14.8 million. His production, age, and team-friendly contract have made him a valuable asset in trade discussions as the Lakers weigh roster changes following another early playoff exit.</p><p>The Desmond Bane deal, which sent the 26-year-old guard to Orlando in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-makes-sore-admission-after-viral-dap">exchange for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks</a>, and a pick swap, has recalibrated expectations for the value of high-level role players and borderline stars.</p><p>Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, shooting 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. The parallels in production and role between Bane and Reaves have prompted speculation over whether the Lakers could now explore Reaves’ trade value in a more aggressive pursuit of roster upgrades.</p><p>As the offseason continues, Reaves’ name is likely to remain a topic of conversation among executives and analysts alike.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers rumors: Nick Wright predicts Austin Reaves’ trade value after Desmond Bane deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-reveals-wild-timing-of-when-orlando-trade-went-down');   ga('set', 'title', 'Desmond Bane reveals wild timing of when Magic trade went down');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Desmond-Bane.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Desmond Bane reveals wild timing of when Magic trade went down</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T09:34:08-07:00">June 19th, 9:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T09:34:08-07:00">June 19th, 9:34am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Ever since the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">Orlando Magic traded for Desmond Bane</a>, it has sent shockwaves throughout the basketball world with how the news came out of nowhere. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-simple-mic-drop-after-perfect-trade">Bane speaking about the “perfect” Magic trade</a>, there’s no doubt he was surprised in his own right as he gave insight into how he found out about the deal.</p><p>Bane was on the “The Young Man and The Three” podcast, where he was asked how he found out about the trade, and he mentioned it was when he and his significant other were on vacation. He would mention he got a text from Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zachary Kleiman, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTBshlvf6YM&amp;t=242s" rel="noopener">which then led to a FaceTime call.</a></p><p>“Me and my lady, like I said, we’re here on vacation in Destin, and we’ve been trying to like catch a little coffee shop or like breakfast shop in the morning,” Bane said. “And it was Father’s Day, so we were chilling like enjoying our morning, and my GM texts me ‘Happy Father’s Day, you got a second?’ And I was like, yeah, I do.”</p><p>“I’m telling my lady, and she’s like, ‘Oh, like this can’t be good.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, probably not.’ like it’s either me or somebody else that’s very impactful on the team,” Bane continued. “About 10 seconds later, I get a FaceTime call, and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, we don’t really FaceTime like that.’”</p><h2><b>Desmond Bane felt better about the trade when he heard it’ll be to Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-22-moves-the-ball-in-front-of-Orlando-Magic-center-Goga-Bitadze-35.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-banes-message-fans-trade">Bane looks to make Magic fans excited</a> and hyped for the upcoming season, he is bringing an exciting skillset from the Grizzlies that has made him an effective player, though injuries have held him back a bit. Still, Bane would admit his “heart sunk” when he was told he’d be traded, but when told it was to Orlando, he felt better about the deal.</p><p>“At that point, I knew and he told me that I was getting traded, and when he told me, my heart sunk,” Bane said. “Because it’s like there’s 29 other teams you can go to, and once he told me Orlando, I was like okay, I can do that where we wanted to go, and it’s a great up-and-coming team, I think I fit in. So it was a crazy little Father’s Day morning for sure.”</p><p>At any rate, Bane will look to join a talented core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and more as the Magic look to improve after finishing with a 41-41 record, which put them seventh in the Eastern Conference. Orlando would eventually be eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Desmond Bane reveals wild timing of when Magic trade went down

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/nba-rumors-will-grizzlies-enter-kevin-durant-trade-hunt-desmond-bane-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Will Grizzlies enter Kevin Durant trade hunt after Desmond Bane deal?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Will Grizzlies enter Kevin Durant trade hunt after Desmond Bane deal?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T07:42:43-07:00">June 19th, 7:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T07:42:43-07:00">June 19th, 7:42am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After the Memphis <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane</a> to the Orlando Magic, many are wondering what will be next for the franchise. They were able to get a nice haul in return for Bane, and there are a lot of things that they can do with those assets. One of those things could be trading for a star, and some have thrown out Kevin Durant as an option with the Phoenix Suns still trying to find the best offer for him.</p><p>Though he may sound like a good option, there are already<a href="https://x.com/damichaelc/status/1935412359700295929?s=46" rel="noopener"> two reports</a> that have said Durant is <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-nba-draft-intel-kevin?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=166283635&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">not an option</a> for the Grizzlies.</p><p>“Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, furthermore, on Wednesday seconded The Stein Line’s reporting from Monday that the Grizzlies do not intend to join the Durant trade chase,” The Stein Line wrote.</p><p>“Per sources: The Grizzlies are not interested in trading for Kevin Durant. They contemplated an offer at the trade deadline, but they haven’t and don’t intend to engage on a trade for Durant this offseason,” Damichael Cole wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Right now, it seems like the Grizzlies will plan on staying pat with what they have, or they may try to improve the team around the edges, building around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.</p><h2><b>Grizzlies will not pursue Kevin Durant</b></h2><p>In a report from a few days ago, NBA insider Jake Fischer noted that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-rumors-will-memphis-trade-kevin-durant-after-desmond-bane-deal">Grizzlies would probably not trade for Durant</a>, especially with him having a desired list of where he’d like to be moved.</p><p>“Some will undoubtedly make that leap … but remember: Memphis was wary of trading for Jimmy Butler in February, sources say, because it knew Butler had no interest in signing a contract extension with the Grizzlies,” Fischer wrote. “San Antonio, Houston and Miami are the only three teams known to be on Durant’s wish list for signing an extension as part of a trade this month. Creating the financial wiggle room to complete a renegotiation and extension of Jackson’s contract, furthermore, is also known to be a Memphis priority.”</p><p>If anything, the Grizzlies could wait until another star becomes available, or they could just continue to build around the talent they have now. Jackson’s extension seems like something they want to get done first, which makes sense he is one of the cornerstones of the team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Will Grizzlies enter Kevin Durant trade hunt after Desmond Bane deal?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/ex-grizzlies-star-desmond-bane-rejects-claims-that-memphis-is-unsafe');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ex-Grizzlies star Desmond Bane rejects claims that Memphis is ‘unsafe’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Bane.jpg"><figcaption>Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Ex-Grizzlies star Desmond Bane rejects claims that Memphis is ‘unsafe’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T01:06:28-07:00">June 19th, 1:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T01:06:28-07:00">June 19th, 1:06am</time><address><a>Miguel La Torre</a>Miguel La Torre is a lifelong sports junkie and seasoned sports writer whose passion for the game has been with him since childhood. A former soccer player turned dedicated runner, he's now chasing his dream of completing all seven major world marathons. Miguel is also a proud Utah Jazz believer, a passionate Manchester United and Real Madrid supporter, and loyal Novak Djokovic fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Desmond Bane <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">may be headed to Orlando</a>, but he’s not letting anyone disrespect the city that made him a star. The former Memphis Grizzlies ace recently appeared on the Young Man and the Three podcast, where he <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935553662660628585" rel="noopener">addressed lingering concerns</a> about the city being unsafe. The sharp-shooting wing had just moved to Orlando in a blockbuster trade, yet he was quick to protect the city he called home.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I think all that is just false. I think once you get to Memphis and you learn Memphis… There's a lot of love in that city. Yeah, it's got its rough parts. But that's how every city is."</p><p>Desmond Bane responds to players saying Memphis is unsafe 🗣️<a href="https://t.co/eAdNHiwaRO">pic.twitter.com/eAdNHiwaRO</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1935553662660628585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Asked why some players hesitate to go to Memphis, he replied with conviction, “I think all that is just false. I think once you get to Memphis and you learn Memphis… There’s a lot of love in that city. Yeah, it’s got its rough parts. But that’s how every city is. Memphis is a beautiful place they got a great organization. Anybody that goes there will be happy with what they got going on for sure.”</p><p>That kind of loyalty is rare in today’s NBA, but it comes naturally from a player who understands both sides of the coin.</p><p>For years, Memphis has battled a reputation tied to crime statistics and sensational headlines. Cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Orleans have similar challenges, yet their residents rarely face the same scrutiny. For the Grizzlies, the criticism took on new life when ESPN’s Stephen A Smith suggested stars <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14507394/stephen-a-smith-memphis-grizzlies-ja-morant/" rel="noopener">might refuse to come</a> to Memphis based solely on safety worries. Bane’s comments put that narrative to rest by offering perspective from someone who lived through the ups and downs.</p><p>Bane’s background in Memphis is more than symbolic. He was the cornerstone of a franchise renaissance, averaging 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting better than 47.2 percent in his five years with the franchise. That offensive versatility, coupled with his lockdown defense, made him one of the most coveted two-way wings in the league.</p><p>In exchange for Bane, Memphis loaded up on draft picks and acquired veteran guards Kentavious Caldwell Pope and Cole Anthony. At first glance, the swap feels transactional, but in the front office, it had purpose. Bane was nearing unrestricted free agency, and the Grizzlies wanted to avoid losing him for nothing. Now they are banking on those draft assets to secure another cornerstone in the future.</p><p>Bane’s arrival in Orlando <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">offers a fresh chapter</a>. He joins a young nucleus that includes Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs. Coach Jamahl Mosley sees Bane as the missing piece that will add shooting and solidity to a team pushing toward playoff relevance. The real litmus test will come once the new season begins and the matchup spotlight turns to Magic at Grizzlies. That will be his first return visit as an opponent in the city he defended so passionately.</p><p>Beyond basketball, Memphis remains central to Bane’s story. He lived in the city year-round, invested in neighborhood programs, and established relationships that extended far beyond the Grindhouse. <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/grizzlies/news/grizzlies-star-makes-incredible-community-donation" rel="noopener">He has been hands-on</a> in school, drives youth camps, and community service.</p><p>Many veteran players now emphasize off-court activism and civic identity. For Bane, it was organic to the person he became through the Grizzlies’ culture. That makes his bifold message about Memphis even more powerful</p><p>Could Bane have said nothing and let the trade stand? Sure. But he chose to speak up in a moment when the national conversation placed Memphis under a microscope. His words tell recruits, current players, and fans that the city matters no less than any larger market. That it is safe enough to build a family, a career, and a legacy.</p><p>When Magic and Grizzlies tip off this season, players may ask each other if it is safe to play in Memphis. Thanks to Desmond Bane, his answer will be audible inside the huddle. And it will begin with the words he spoke on a podcast hosted by peers in the business. Beyond numbers and schedules he made Memphis his own.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ex-Grizzlies star Desmond Bane rejects claims that Memphis is ‘unsafe’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/how-knicks-title-pursuit-complicated-magic-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Knicks’ title pursuit is complicated by Magic’s Desmond Bane trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/How-Knicks-title-pursuit-is-complicated-by-Magics-Desmond-Bane-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>How Knicks’ title pursuit is complicated by Magic’s Desmond Bane trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-18T14:39:20-07:00">June 18th, 2:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-18T14:39:57-07:00">June 18th, 2:39pm</time><address><a>Drew Maresca</a>Drew Maresca is a NY-area writer and researcher who has covered the NBA for more than 5 years. Prior to joining ClutchPoints to cover the New York Knicks, Drew wrote for Basketball News and Basketball Insiders. Drew has conducted interviews inside NBA locker rooms including Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, and the Kia Center, and he covered the 2019 NBA Draft in-person from Brooklyn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks just wrapped up their most successful season in 25 years, winning  51 games and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/biggest-decisions-knicks-must-make-end-title-drought-eastern-conference-finals-loss">advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals</a>. Given the average age of their core, that bodes incredibly well for the team’s future. Additionally, an Achilles injury suffered by Jayson Tatum limits the Boston Celtics’ ceiling next year.</p><p>Granted, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/3-trades-new-york-knicks-must-make-to-win-2026-nba-finals">rumor mill has already begun to circulate around the Knicks</a>, who still have to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/what-knicks-next-coach-must-do-be-successful">identify a head coach</a>. However, advancing to the NBA Finals appeared as likely for the Knicks as it has been in recent memory. But the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">Orlando Magic shook up the East by trading for Desmond Bane</a>, and now all bets are off.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-of-the-Orlando-Magic.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Bane presents problems for Eastern Conference leaders</b></h2><p>Orlando did not wait to begin its offseason. It added Bane in <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45531560/nba-trade-tracker-details-every-deal-2025-offseason" rel="noopener">exchange for</a> Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, a 2026 pick (swap rights from Phoenix or Washington), two more unprotected first-round picks (2028 and 2030), and a 2029 first-round pick swap. Bane is a physical defender and elite shooter who will most certainly change the Magic’s trajectory.</p><p>Picks aside, this move significantly improves the Magic, especially offensively. Bane averaged 19.2 points on a 54.8/39.2/89.4 shooting split in 2024-25. His 3-point shooting in particular will benefit the Magic, who finished 2024-25 last in 3-point percentage.</p><p>But Bane is far more than a shooter. He can also create—just look at the 5.3 assists per game he averaged last season. And his bag is fairly deep in terms of scoring off the dribble, as well. Additionally, Bane is a sturdy defender capable of guarding point guards, shooting guards, and a good deal of forwards, too. So, he’ll fit in with how Orlando plays defensively, while significantly lifting the team’s offensive ceiling.</p><p>In summation, Bane is everything the Magic needed, no disrespect to Anthony or Caldwell-Pope. He’s a guy who can shoot, score, create, and defend. He plugs in incredibly well beside Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and company, stretching opposing defenses and enabling more space for the Magic’s star forwards to operate. Additionally, Bane can create and score for himself when defenses send extra guys to Banchero or Wagner, something the Magic have lacked since becoming a consistent playoff team.</p><p> </p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-vs.-the-Knicks.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Desmond Bane, Magic will be tough matchup for Knicks</b></h2><p>The Magic’s new starting five is simply terrifying: Jalen Suggs, Bane, Banchero, Wagner, and Wendell Carter. Considering the Bane addition, the unit is capable of applying an incredible amount of defensive pressure while punishing opponents on the offensive end. New York played well against Orlando last season, winning three of its four matchups. But Banchero missed all four games and Wagner missed three. So, there’s limited tape on how the Knicks respond to the Magic’s unique, old-school style of play.</p><p>Looking ahead, Orlando is expected to be a title contender almost immediately. Following the trade, DraftKings Sportsbook gave the Magic the <a href="https://www.si.com/betting/magic-2026-nba-finals-odds-make-major-jump-after-blockbuster-desmond-bane-trade#:~:text=Orlando%20Magic%202026%20NBA%20Finals,a%20deal%20for%20Desmond%20Bane." rel="noopener">fifth-best odds to win the championship</a> amongst Eastern Conference teams, per Sports Illustrated. The Eastern Conference teams ahead of the Magic include the Boston Celtics, Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers. So, assuming that New York will be better, but the idea that Boston will finish ahead of Orlando, given Tatum’s presumed absence, is a major stretch, revealing cracks in the sportsbook’s underlying logic.</p><p>Ultimately, the Knicks will have to deal with the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers; that’s a given. Cleveland will also be as dangerous as ever. And Boston remains strong, even without Tatum. But Orlando wasn’t a <i>major</i> concern… yet. Now, given the Bane addition, that’s no longer the case. And given the Magic’s balance, defensive abilities, and physicality, they might be the toughest Eastern Conference opponent that New York will face in 2025-26. Let’s see how Knicks’ leadership responds—but hiring a coach should still be first on their to-do list.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
18.0	5.8	5.4	0.4	1.2

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
18.0	5.8	5.4	0.4	1.2

Desmond Bane news

Desmond
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