This season has been wild for basketball fans. Enthusiasts have witnessed several blockbuster trades, including Luka Doncic heading to the Los Angeles Lakers and Jimmy Butler joining the Golden State Warriors. However, the latest jaw-dropping development came as the Memphis Grizzlies sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic.
In return for trading Bane, the Grizzlies acquired Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and four unprotected first-round draft picks. Notably, this package features the 16th overall selection in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, alongside a swap for a first-round pick scheduled for 2029. Yet, not everyone seems to share the same enthusiasm; former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the deal.
“You look at a guy like Desmond Bane and then you look at a guy like Luka Doncic… Hell no he’s not worth it, if Luka is only worth one first round pick,” Cousins said.
“You look at a guy like Desmond Bane and then you look at a guy like Luka Doncic… Hell no he’s not worth it, if Luka is only worth one first round pick.”@boogiecousins says the Magic overpaid for Desmond Bane! 👀
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 21, 2025
Do you agree?@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/iSvR0FUSUD
Cousins challenges the Magic for their hefty investment in the Bane, highlighting a stark discrepancy when compared to Doncic’s trade value.
Austin Reaves Explores His Role With Luka Doncic On The Team
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a jaw-dropping move this season by landing Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade. With Doncic in the fold, the Lakers clinched their playoff ticket. But they faced elimination in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even with these challenges, Doncic formed solid bonds with his fellow players. In a recent chat with Lakers Nation, Austin Reaves shared insights about Doncic’s seamless integration into the team’s lineup.
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“I think it brings so much chaos offensively because you got two guys, you know obviously I’m not putting myself in Luka’s category because he’s top three player in the NBA. But it brings two guys in the 1-2 spot, then obviously you have Bron too, that are willing passers, that can create chaos on defense. So therefore, I think it’s gonna be tough for teams to stay in front of us, I feel like we can get good looks every possession,” Reaves said.
Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists over the course of 50 games this season.
Also Read: LeBron James & Luka Doncic Reportedly ‘Excited’ Over Lakers’ $10 Billion Sale, And Here’s Why
