In trading Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies moved on from a player who is possibly the best shooter in franchise history in a deal that has sweeping implications for the organization, writes Damichael Cole for Memphis Commercial Appeal. In addition to his offensive workload, Bane had also assumed a prominent leadership role in Memphis in recent years.
Despite moving Bane for a pick-heavy trade package, the Grizzlies aren’t expected to go into rebuild mode, Cole writes. Those picks will likely be used in trades, whether to bring in more talent or to clear cap room to help renegotiate Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s contract.
In the meantime, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will help shore up the perimeter defense around Ja Morant. While the shot creation will take a hit with the loss of Bane, Caldwell-Pope should still be a helpful floor spacer, despite coming off a down year with the Magic.
We have more notes from the Grizzlies:
- Grizzlies fans shouldn’t be shocked if Cole Anthony is moved in a subsequent trade, as his fit with high-end backup point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. is questionable, writes Spotrac’s Keith Smith. While the trade will provide long-term financial flexibility for Memphis, it eats into the team’s ability to create cap space this summer, Smith notes, especially given the salary slot for the newly acquired 16th pick in the 2025 draft.
- Caldwell-Pope’s durability could be a valuable asset for a Grizzlies team that has struggled to keep its best players on the floor, writes Jonah Dylan for Memphis Commercial Appeal. Memphis’ new wing has never played fewer than 67 games in a season over his 12-year career. He also brings championship experience to a team that has struggled to make good on its potential in previous playoff runs.
- The Grizzlies are searching for a new top assistant for head coach Tuomas Iisalo‘s coaching staff, writes Marc Stein for The Stein Line (Substack link). Names being considered include Adrian Griffin, Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley, and Magic assistant Dale Osbourne.
This is a great trade by Orlando. They desperately needed 3 point shooting, and they got a guy who is not only Top 3 in the NBA in catch and shoot threes, he can also initiate the offense whenever Paolo is injured, and plays tough defense. The PHX pick is like a quadruple swap, so its really three 1sts and two swaps and they got off the bad KCP contract and got a Top 40 NBA guy to pair with Paolo, Franz, and Jalen. This team has a shot in the Eastern Conference now.
Not that it necessarily changes your overall view of the trade, but I don’t think it’s accurate to characterize the 2026 pick as a swap — the Grizzlies will be getting a second first-rounder, not just the ability to upgrade their existing pick. The swap rights actually make it more valuable than if it was just straight up Orlando’s pick.
This is from the 2023 Offseason Trade Tracker – The right to swap their first round pick with the least favorable of PHX/WAS in 2026. The second round picks that the Suns got back were not very good, so the double swap doesn’t have nearly as much value.
Suns acquire the Nuggets’ 2024 second-round pick, either the Magic’s, Pistons’, or Bucks’ 2026 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable), and the Celtics’ 2028 second-round pick (top-45 protected).
Magic acquire the right to swap their own 2026 first-round pick for either the Suns’ or Wizards’ 2026 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
The Suns were giving up swap rights to the pick in that trade. The Magic are giving up the pick itself, post-swap rights.
Based on that 2023 trade, you could make the case that the 2026 pick going to Memphis in the Bane trade is the equivalent of three second-rounders more valuable than Orlando’s own pick would’ve been.
The reporting thus far on this trade has been very confusing. Because I knew that Washington held swap rights on that PHX pick, and the media keeps saying they got Phoenix’s pick. Wish the reporting was 2026 Orlando Pick (with swap rights for PHX pick) plus 2028 and 2030 Orlando picks. Thanks for clarifying
Yeah, I think it was widely reported as the Phoenix pick because the expectation is that those three teams will finish in the same order they did this year (Magic best, Wizards worst), in which case it’d be the Suns pick going to Memphis. But obviously no guarantee of that.
The Nuggets should have hopped in that deal and got back KCP for cheap.
That 2026 pick is Suns pick -90% chance
I’d trade up
Trade 2026 Suns pick and 16th pick for 5th pick
Jazz like Suns pick
I think keeping KCP makes a ton of sense. Veteran 3 point shooter who is also a great defender.
Memphis needs a SF that can act as a 2nd option on offence with 20+ points per game. He needs to be able to shoot well from 3 and not be a liability on defence. I don’t think they should look at a KD who will guy their roster and take all their draft capital. Instead it should be a Brandon Ingram, Cam Johnson level player.
Cam isn’t exactly a second option, he’s never averaged more than 20 a game, he’s now 29 although his contract is an easy match.
Brandon is a consistent 20+ points per game guy, who’s only 27 and now recently extended. His deal maybe harder to match and he only shots 36% from 3 but he’s a capable 2.
Trey Murphy just put up 21 last season, he’s only 24 he shoots roughly 38% from 3 and his contact is recently extended and is easily matchable. The cost will be more than the previous 2 but he could be a great fit.
MPJ again good age, decent enough defender, not quite a 20 points per game guy but excellent shooter but difficult to match salaries.
Lastly Miles Bridges, good age, alright defensively, decent contract and 20 points per game level scorer although not great from deep, potential issues off the floor and not a proven 2 at all.
These should be their targets
Memphis has young wings that this trade opens up and don’t see them trading for a 3. If they want to win now maybe an CJ M deal though his defense and Jah would be bad.
I agree MEM needs a better 2nd/3rd option now for offense. However, I am not sure it needs to be a SF with the way Wells played before the injury. It could be a SG also. As CoachJB pointed out, they also have a lot of young options already, PLUS they have #16 now that will need to step up: GG, Vince, Spencer, #16, etc.
Right now (assuming Wells & Edey recover from their injuries) their starting 5 is probably Ja, KCP, Wells, JJJ, & Edey. That is similar defense to what they had last year, but the offense takes a hit. Backups would be Pippen, Spencer (guess for who would be taking over the spot left by Kennard in FA), GG, Aldama (if they can resign him) and either Clarke or Huff. That 2nd unit defense is pretty bad. Getting a good SG/SF for the starting lineup who isn’t awful defensively would be the target, and move KCP to the bench. However, that would just be a downgrade of what they already had with Bane with the possibility of more cap flexibility and/or picks. So not sure that makes them any more of an actual contender moving forward.
I was hoping they’d trade Ja and keep the others, but hard to turn down that offer for Bane.
I don’t see BI as an option, with TOR JUST trading for him.
Cam is decent, but doesn’t do much playmaking for me to want him.
I like MPJ better than Cam on court. However, he has the same playmaking deficiency, PLUS he cost $17M more which is untenable for MEM imo.
I want nothing to do with pairing M Bridges and his off court issues with Ja.
That leaves Trey, who I do like and was hoping they would’ve drafted over Zhaire. I also like the buy lowish opportunity with him coming off an injury. It would be someone like him or guys like Reaves or Coby White who they’d hope to get and resign to a similar contract as Trey. Otherwise they’d probably be looking at an offense only guy like Simons, barring they don’t just see what the internal options produce first.
Now… do they trade Ja and really start over and go Thunder style.
We shall see if Ja get extended to see what is next. KCP will get better looks in Memphis than Orlando.
Griz are run by an anti-Presti GM.