Orlando Magic’s perfect move in 2025 NBA offseason

Desmond Bane instantly turns the Magic into a contender

Originally drafted with pick 30 in the 2020 NBA Draft, Demond Bane blew past early expectations with the Memphis Grizzlies to become a max contract player, consistently improving his game every step along the way.

An upperclassman who spent four years at TCU before declaring for the NBA Draft, Bane entered the league as a hopeful 3-and-D prospect but quickly blew past that moniker, showing he could be the engine of an offense as a three-level scorer with elite instincts and a drive to win.

After finding his footing as a rookie, Bane averaged 20.2 points over the last four seasons, shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.3 percent from the free throw line. Bane has grown as a passer, holding a near two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio while improving as a defensive rebounder and ball hawk.

Filling out a Big 3 with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Bane has proven he can play up or down a rotation, depending on how injuries stack up, be a first, second, or third option, and remain engaged all the same. His ability to space the field is one of his best assets, but his slashing is a close second, allowing the 27-year-old guard to be just as effective on the ball as he is off it.

On the Magic, Bane may again be the third fiddle behind Banchero and Wagner, just like he was in Memphis. While Banchero and Wagner are both very gifted players, especially at their respective sizes, neither is an elite 3-point shooter, which Bane is. Having the former Grizzlies guard running off-ball movement and repositioning himself as an outlet pass option could instantly make both Banchero and Wagner drives all the more dangerous, while finally allowing Mosley a chance to run an NBA-spaced offense, instead of having teams fill up the painted area knowing they won’t be punished for it.

And the best part? When the Magic need a certified fourth quarter closer who can secure a win with the ball in his hands, Bane can be the man at the trigger, making opposing defenses pay as he attacks the basket or sets up a teammate for an easy shot on the wings.

Did the Magic pay a ton of money to bring Bane to town? Yes. Could surrendering four draft picks plus a swap ultimately come back to haunt the team if they can’t take things up a notch and become contenders? Oh yeah, as the Phoenix Suns will certainly admit. And yet, with the East wide open and the Magaic a team seemingly topped out as a defense-first squad with an anemic offensive game beyond the arc, adding an elite player who can shoot, score, and do the little things around the edges ultimately makes the team better in the short and long-term, cementing a Big 3 in Orlando the likes of which the team hasn’t employed in a very long time.