The Orlando Magic have gone all-in and entered win-now mode following their blockbuster commerce with the Memphis Grizzlies.
In change for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and probably 5 first-round draft picks, the Orlando Magic acquired Desmond Bane.
It’s secure to say that the commerce took many without warning, however the indicators had been already there. For example, the Memphis Grizzlies GM’s end-of-season feedback hinted at this transfer.
However coming to the Magic’s reasoning behind making the transfer, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas blatantly labeled the commerce ‘dumb.’
For what it’s value, Bane is coming off a season averaging 19.2 factors, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per recreation for the Grizzlies.
On paper, it is sensible so as to add a proficient scorer like him to the roster, however Arenas is solely not satisfied by the worth that the Magic paid to commerce for Bane.
“They’re not fleeced, they’re simply dumb. It’s actually the Orlando Magic. There are some groups on the market that don’t care about their future. Dynasties [are] constructed off choices like this,” Arenas stated on Gil’s Enviornment.
“The commerce is ok, it’s the picks, unprotected, you bought to have a minimum of high three. When you get to the primary or two picks as a result of one thing occurs to your crew, you simply lose it.
“However they don’t actually care about constructing proper now. Win now, however they [are] not ok to win now,” he added.
The Magic completed because the seventh seed within the Japanese Convention with a 41-41 report within the 2024-25 NBA season. Coming into the playoffs, they had been despatched residence in 5 video games by the Boston Celtics within the opening spherical.
However the factor is that the East is more likely to be extensive open subsequent season, with Jayson Tatum probably lacking main time because of his harm and the Celtics reportedly seeking to blow up their core.
The likes of the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks stay as inconsistent as ever. If all goes properly, the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers might show to be an impediment within the Magic’s path to reaching the NBA Finals.
So, making a win-now mode commerce was certainly the right option to make. Nonetheless, was giving up 4 unprotected draft picks a smart choice?
The Magic have the likes of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, who’re all but to hit the prime of their careers.
Now, including a proficient star who can drop 20 factors on any given evening will probably make the franchise a championship contender for almost all of the subsequent decade.
Finally, that might imply that the Magic would keep out of the lottery and the picks that they gave up would probably land someplace between the twentieth to thirtieth spot within the NBA Draft. So, sure, the Magic might have taken a raffle, but it surely’s a calculated one.
