The discourse around the Memphis Grizzlies trading Desmond Bane immediately turned to questions about the team considering a rebuild, instead of belief in building around their All-Star duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. "All-Star" is the key word, as Desmond Bane was integral to the Grizzlies' success the last couple of seasons, but he never reached All-Star status.
Roster construction and coaching turmoil within the front office contributed to the Grizzlies' fate of ending last season as they fell from a top-three seed at the All-Star break to eighth in the playoffs. Despite their 12-16 finish to the regular season, the Grizzlies fell just short of avoiding the play-in tournament and even securing home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with only two games separating them and the three-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.
However, with their team at a crossroads with Jaren Jackson Jr. eligible for a contract extension ahead of unrestricted free agency next summer, the Grizzlies decided to trade their highest-paid player, who was third in the pecking order of their most important players.
Bane's trade return yielded more than expected
Desmond Bane is a really good NBA starting shooting guard, and he provided great value to the team that drafted with 30th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He entered the NBA primarily as a spot-up shooter, but developed his game to become a scorer on all three levels of the floor and was a clear part of the Grizzlies' core.
However, tough decisions have to be made in this business, and the landscape of the salary cap rules made it easier for the team to prioritize the two players who have made multiple All-Star appearances to form their team around. While Bane was expected to return to Memphis for at least another season to see if they could turn around last season's transgressions, the Orlando Magic decided for them.
Being offered four first-round draft picks for a player who hasn't been an NBA All-Star was a no-brainer for a Grizzlies team that was swept out of the playoffs last season. While the return could signal a potential rebuild, the team made additional moves around the margins to surround their stars of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., with good fits to aid in their leadership development.
The Grizzlies will be judged for how they perform this season with a new-look team, as well as how they utilize the additional draft picks in their arsenal. Will they package the picks they have remaining to bring in another All-Star? The opportunity is there, and they can thank the Magic for offering more than they could have imagined for Desmond Bane.