The Orlando Magic are expected to have a new look offensively, especially after acquiring Desmond Bane in a blockbuster trade. Last season, the team had no stability in terms of shot-making, especially from behind the arc. They ranked last in three-point percentage and made.
Previously, the Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency last summer with hopes of helping them reach new heights. Instead, the two-time champion finished with his third-worst three-point percentage in his 12-year career.
Caldwell-Pope was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason as part of the Bane deal, along with Cole Anthony and draft capital.
It appeared as a one-sided trade for a player who hasn't made an All-Star team. However, it's a sign that the Magic are serious about competing for a championship with their stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
In a recent episode of the "Kevin O'Connor Show," he and Bane discussed the "special" opportunity for him and the upcoming season with a new and talented team.
They started discussing his point of view on the Magic team, looking at it from the outside before joining.
"I think they have a unique roster," Bane said. "The size that they have on this roster is unreal. Jalen Suggs is a big guard; Anthony Black is a bigger guard. Next to them, you have 6-10 wings and forwards. It's no secret why they were such a good defensive team, but now it's about converting on those stops and getting out in transition."
He alluded to getting easy baskets on the run, something Wagner excelled at during his successful stint at EuroBasket this summer, an area in which Suggs also thrives.
Bane expects to remain a high-volume three-point shooter, especially since that's what the Magic brought him in for.
"They want me to shoot threes, be aggressive, and score the ball," he said. "I think that it'll definitely be a career number as far as attempts go."
It's also a reunion for Bane as the Magic signed Tyus Jones in free agency. They played three seasons together with the Grizzlies.
"He's going to be huge for us," Bane added. "Help guys Jalen and Anthony Black, all those guys and show them the ropes of what it's like to have longevity in this league as a point guard."
The acquisition came as a shock to most fans because the Magic haven't been open for business since 2021, when they traded away Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. They've remained stiff in trade conversations until recently.
"It feels like I was one of the missing pieces to get them over the top," Bane said. "If that's the case, then those four first-round picks would fall to the end of the draft as it is. It's my job to go out there, win basketball games, and prove the decision right."
Bane understands what it's like for a young team to emerge as championship contenders. On the Grizzlies, he, alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., was expected to break through at some point and take over the Western Conference. However, they repeatedly fell short of reaching the Western Conference Finals.
The Magic haven't made it out of the first round since 2010, but Bane can help them do more, such as a deeper playoff run. The Eastern Conference is wide open; no better opportunity to take advantage than now.