Jalen Suggs are ready to take the next step after the Orlando Magic landed Desmond Bain in the first trade of the NBA offseason.
Orlando’s magic pulled away from the first big hit trade of the NBA offseason, adding Sharpshooter Desmond Bain in exchange for Kentavias’ Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony, four first round picks and a pix swap.
The initial reaction suggested overpayment of Bane’s magic, but he averaged 20.2 points on 40.7% shooting from Deep, addressing Orlando’s much-needed weakness without compromising the elite’s defense.
Other Eastern Conference teams will certainly make the move this summer to bolster their roster, but the magic seems poised to take the next step and get out of the first round for the first time since 2010.
Bane’s new teammate, Jalen Suggs, quickly laid out his championship expectations.
In four of his five NBA seasons, Bane won the postseason, with him and the Grizzlies taking the final champion Golden State Warriors into six games in 2022, with the Sags thinking Bane will have even greater success in Orlando.
“I was very excited about players coming in with his caliber,” Suggs said. “I’m excited to go around him and spend time with him. Yesterday morning I texted him by saying, ‘I’m excited to start this championship journey with you.’ ”
Magic has a clear identity and no plans to deviate from it. Last season they ranked second in defensive ratings and 27th in offensive ratings.
Defense remains a priority, but in the league, at far worse terms, they only shot 31.8% as a team from the 3-point range. The distance between the magic and the Washington Wizard in 29th place (33.5%) was the same as the distance between the Wizard and the Utah Jazz in 22nd place.
Bane brings an attack, but he’s not a man who doesn’t know how to do dirty work on the other end of the floor.
“We’ll take another dog to the roster,” Suggs added. “From everything I’ve seen playing against him and hearing from the people around him, his mentality is elite.”
Paolo Bancello is already an All-Star, and Franz Wagner doesn’t seem to be that late. Bane quickly becomes the third option of attack and the best shooter game, dealing with long-standing weaknesses of magic.
Certainly there are experienced and perhaps more talented teams in the east, but no one is better on the defensive side of the ball in the meeting.
With Suggs, Bane, Banchero, Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. all underway, Magic won’t be able to bolster depth with their first draft pick this summer.
Mo Wagner missed most of the season and Anthony Black continues to improve, but their benches are average.
The Magic may not take part in the season as a title favourite, but they are the first team to make a move to take advantage of the weak Eastern Conference.