The Orlando Magic made one of the boldest moves of the offseason by acquiring Desmond Bane in a blockbuster deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade sent Kentavious Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a pick swap to Memphis, showing Orlando is all in on contending and willing to pay big to get there. While this deal immediately upgrades the Magic’s backcourt and offensive firepower, it could also send shock waves across the league, especially in Kevin Durant’s case.
The trade market just saw its bar raised. With Memphis netting such a massive haul for Bane, a valuable but not superstar-level guard, the asking price for Durant may have just climbed even higher, as he is a former MVP and two-time finals MVP.
Durant’s talent value already had teams hesitating. But Phoenix now has a new point of reference after seeing Bane go for multiple unprotected first-rounders and an applicable expiring contract in Caldwell-Pope. If Bane can fetch this kind of return, the Suns will likely hold firm or even raise their demands for Durant, especially as draft week approaches.
Rising Budget Could Trouble Kevin Durant’s Exit
The suns have a clear motive. They want meaningful assets in any Durant deal. And now, in the wake of the Magic-Grizzlies trade, the leverage future pick from subs in 2016, and two of their unprotected picks in 2028 and 2030. That kind of package makes San Antonio’s current offer, highlighted by Devin Vassell and Lesser picks, look light by comparison.
With Memphis potentially signaling the start of a reset and Orlando moving aggressively to win now, other teams eyeing Durant may have to reassess their offers. The Durant market just gets tighter and more expensive. Whether that speeds up a deal or slows things down will remain an anticipation.
Also Read: Kevin Durant’s Potential Trade Timeline Revealed, And It Might Be Sooner Than Expected
