Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero spoke on his initial feelings upon hearing that his team had decided to trade for Desmond Bane. Despite having a young and talented roster, the Magic have been unable to make it past the first round in the last two seasons and haven’t advanced since the 2010-11 season.
Since Banchero is clearly a rising star with the potential to carry the team to a championship, the franchise is keen to build its roster around him and acquired Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies to improve its lineup.
How Did Paolo Banchero React to the Orlando Magic’s Surprise Desmond Bane Trade?
Although Bane has yet to play an official game as a member of the Magic, many in the basketball community believe trading for him will help the team reach the next level.
The Magic gave up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a 2029 pick swap to convince the Grizzlies to part ways with Bane. While some critics felt the Magic surrendered too much in the trade, Banchero expressed his positivity when discussing Bane and his recent addition to their team.
“I just didn’t believe it,” he told The Athletic on Friday. “I had a feeling we were going to make a trade. But I felt like there were some guys that were kind of up on the list of who we would maybe trade for, at least in my head, and Desmond Bane was not one of them. So when I heard that one, I was like, ‘Desmond Bane!’ I was like, ‘S**t, he’s a hell of a player.’ I was excited. Obviously, he was in the West, so (we didn’t) play him too much, but every time we played Memphis, man, he’d give it to us. And I just liked his whole demeanor and how he played, shooting the 3.”
The Magic’s projected starting lineup:
Jalen Suggs
Desmond Bane
Franz Wagner
Paolo Banchero
Wendell Carter Jr. pic.twitter.com/HAoHSPUykq— Evan Sidery (@esidery) September 27, 2025
Banchero also spoke about the potential impact of Bane as well as free agency acquisition Tyus Jones for the Magic.
“I think it’s going to do wonders, I think it’s going to do a lot of great things, not only on the court but off the court, just with the way they are as people and how they’re able to kind of control a room. They talk with so much experience that you listen to them. Both of them offensively are just really experienced players, and they just know how to play. They have great feels for the game, feels for the court, when to make plays, when to shoot, when to drive.”
The Magic strengthened their core by bringing in Bane to join a starting lineup already anchored by Banchero and Franz Wagner, who shined during EuroBasket.
With the Eastern Conference looking wide open this year, they have a real chance to make some noise.
