Desmond Bane is very pleased to be a member of the Orlando Magic after the major trade they made with the Memphis Grizzlies, and he’s looking forward to playing well into the later rounds of the NBA Playoffs, as he expressed in an interview.
‘I’m Excited To Go Make Something Happen’: Desmond Bane Expects Great Things As The Newest Member of The Magic
The NBA’s offseason flurry of trades got off to a whirlwind start as the Memphis Grizzlies traded guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic nearly two weeks ago. Bane is ecstatic over the move and shared his feelings during an interview with Zach Lowe of The Ringer on Lowe’s podcast.
Desmond Bane Joins Zach Lowe & Speaks About Being The Perfect Fit For Orlando
“I don’t think there could’ve been a much better fit…I think it fits like a glove, my skill set can really help take some pressure off Franz, Paolo, Suggs
“I’m excited to go make something happen in… https://t.co/PGyMDMvFF4 pic.twitter.com/zEZ0sgXlbu
— Huncho Hoops (@HunchoHoops) June 26, 2025
“I don’t think there could have been a much better fit,” Bane exclaimed. “You put me next to a guard like Jalen Suggs that plays both sides of the ball, dynamic, plays with speed in the open court. Really shown promise shooting the ball over the past year.”
Bane continued, raving about Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner’s abilities. “Franz obviously a do-it-all three [small forward], better defender than a lot of people know. You saw what he was doing in the playoffs against Boston and what he’s capable of. Obviously, Paolo is going to be a first-team All-NBA type guy for probably multiple years in his career.”
The massive trade for Bane saw the Magic send forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, point guard Cole Anthony, and the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, their 2026 first-round pick (subject to swap rights with the Phoenix Suns or Washington Wizards), and unprotected selections in 2028 and 2030 to the Grizzlies.
Bane’s capabilities as a skilled wing scorer who provides excellent defense on all three positions on the court make Orlando more dangerous, which was in evidence during their first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics. The 6’5″ guard took notice of that series.
“Defensively, they’re [a] nightmare,” Bane said. “They got size and mobility all over the floor. You combine that with Paolo and Franz’s ability to attack, whether it’s smaller guys or bigger guys, really makes problems for a lot of teams. They weren’t healthy. So, it’s like they’re still trying to gel, and I’ll be new, so we’re still trying to find our niche and our groove.”
Bane concluded, “I don’t see any reason why we can’t make a deep run.” The Magic’s size and accentuated defensive prowess with the addition of Bane is certain to make them one team that others in the Eastern Conference might not be looking forward to meeting when playoff time comes.
