The Orlando Magic made one of the most controversial blockbuster trades of the offseason, acquiring Desmond Bane in exchange for four first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and veterans Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony. The move drew debate because of the steep price for a player who, despite his impact, has yet to earn an All-Star selection. Typically, such a package is reserved for established superstars. Still, the Magic took the risk on Bane, betting his elite three-point shooting and two-way ability make him the ideal fit alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. His youth ensures the team’s core can continue to grow together over the coming seasons.
Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager Anthony Parker made drastic changes to the roster this summer in hopes of pushing the team closer to championship contention. Now, with the roster set, it’s up to the players to live up to those expectations.
Bleacher Report recently ranked each NBA general manager on a GPA scale based on new additions, continuity, and the draft. Parker earned a 3.5, boosted by the addition of Bane but dinged for a weaker draft class.
“The Orlando Magic get a slight ding for the price they paid to land Desmond Bane,” Bleacher Report wrote. “But they undoubtedly improved this offseason. Bane addresses the team's biggest need with his volume and accuracy as a three-point shooter. And Tyus Jones gives them another outside threat who's also a more reliable table-setter than Cole Anthony as the backup.”
Jones is viewed as an under-the-radar addition who could make a major impact for the Magic, especially after they ranked last in assists last season. His playmaking ability gives him a chance to crack the starting lineup in spurts while providing valuable minutes each night.
“Orlando lost a handful of rotation players in Anthony,” The article added. “Gary Harris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but the two most important players—Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner—are still around. And they're now surrounded by a supporting cast that makes a little more sense.”
Caldwell-Pope was an underwhelming signing for the Magic last offseason. Brought in as a veteran presence to boost three-point shooting and provide leadership for a young, talented roster, he instead posted a down year in scoring and perimeter shooting, struggling to deliver in the role he was expected to fill.
“He's undersized,” the article noted. “Jase Richardson shot 41.2 percent from deep as a freshman in 2024-25. And for a team so desperately in need of shooting, that and Richardson's pedigree (he is the son of former NBA player Jason Richardson) were more than enough reason to take him at No. 25. Had the team not paid a whopping four second-rounders to move up and take Noah Penda at No. 32, this grade would be a bit higher. That's not to say the French forward doesn't have a bright future ahead of him. It's just a lot to pay for any second-rounder who's yet to appear in the NBA.”
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