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NBA Notes: Magic, Desmond Bane, Pacers, Hornets

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 2:28 PM ET

Magic

New Magic guard Desmond Bane says he likes what he sees in Orlando — and what he sees in himself next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

“I think my skill set complements those guys very well,” Bane told Sportskeeda’s Mark Medina. “It’ll help open up the floor for them to attack and do their thing.”

Bane praised the roster’s versatility, noting the Magic can roll out all kinds of lineups with multiple handlers and screeners.

He also offered some perspective: “It’s always easy to talk this highly at this time of year… but once you get into December, some guys are playing well, some aren’t. That’s when teams really have a choice to come together or split.”

This will be Bane’s first season outside of Memphis after the Grizzlies traded him to Orlando in June. And while he’s aiming high with the Magic, he insisted there’s “no bad blood” with the Grizzlies.

“I’m rooting for Memphis 80 games out of the year,” he said.

Pacers

The Pacers know they won’t have Tyrese Haliburton this season as he rehabs an Achilles tear. What they don’t want is for anyone to label 2025-26 a lost year.

“I don’t think that’s ever been what we’ve been about,” GM Chad Buchanan said, per Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “With Mr. (Herb) Simon as our owner, it’s always been about trying to compete and trying to win. Some years are going to be more challenging than others. Obviously, we’re down Tyrese… but we’re not looking at this as a year to try and get through. We’d never wish away a season.”

The Pacers shocked people by reaching the conference finals in 2024 and the NBA Finals in 2025. Oddsmakers aren’t expecting a repeat. Buchanan acknowledged the offense will slow without Haliburton, but he pointed to continuity elsewhere.

“This team has shown that they come together when people kinda doubt them,” he said. “I wouldn’t put a limit on anything this year.”

Hornets

The Hornets have re-signed Jaylen Sims — again. The team announced the deal Friday, filling its 21-man preseason roster after waiving Nick Smith Jr.

It’s almost certainly an Exhibit 10 contract, the same type Sims has signed with Charlotte in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The 6-foot-6 guard from UNC Wilmington has mostly been a G League mainstay with Greensboro, though he did get a six-game run with the Hornets last spring, averaging 7.0 points and 2.0 assists. He also helped Charlotte win the Las Vegas Summer League title in July, averaging 14.2 points on hot shooting splits.

Sims is eligible to have his Exhibit 10 converted into a two-way, though the likelier outcome is a return to Greensboro, with the chance at an $85,300 bonus if he sticks 60 days.