Jan 17, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) warms up before a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Orlando Magic GM Anthony Parker Sends Heartfelt Message To Traded Veterans

Originally posted on Orlando Magic on SI
By Andrew Cherico | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 11:45 AM ET

Aside from trading a haul of four first-round picks, the Orlando Magic also sent veteran guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony. While adding their salaries to match Bane's contract was a huge factor in the deal, their presence will be missed.

Drafted in 2020, Anthony found early success as a rookie and broke out in his second season, averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds as a starter. But after struggling with consistency, his role steadily diminished. It resulted in a career-low average of 18.4 minutes and 9.4 points this season.

In an interview with Brandon Kravitz on 96.9 In The Zone, Magic general manager Anthony Parker expressed trading Anthony was a difficult decision.

"That's just a difficult part of this business," Parker said. "A lot of people outside see these guys as players and kind of interchangeable. We talk about all these trade ideas, but you forget sometimes that there's people and families behind this. The more time you spend around Cole, the more you really fall in love with who he is as a person, just caring, genuine, authentic, hard worker and just somebody that you cheer for. Everybody in this building is on Cole Anthony's side. So that was a difficult part of this."

thank you @The_ColeAnthony

for helping build the culture in the O pic.twitter.com/wCspq4RWcV
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 15, 2025

Despite a shorter tenure than Anthony, Caldwell-Pope emerged as a veteran leader in the Magic’s young locker room. After signing a three-year, $66 million deal, his on-court production fell short of expectations. Brought in to be a top three-and-D wing, he averaged just 8.7 points this season.

Parker added Caldwell-Pope played a key role in helping the team mature throughout the season.

"Although he was just here a year, he did a lot of good things for us," Parker stated. "He was a great voice in our locker room. He helped our team grow up, and he showed up every day. He was a really good player for us, and went through some difficult times with all the injuries that he had. He was just a steadfast guy that was always here, and we got to know his family and the children that he has. So it's just a very difficult part of all of this."