As the Boston Celtics will try to navigate this offseason with Jayson Tatum's injury in mind, their peers in the Eastern Conference are looking to capitalize on their window of opportunity. Like we saw with the Knicks acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges last offseason, the Orlando Magic pulled off a stunning move to receive more offensive firepower in the form of Desmond Bane.
Fresh off a first-round loss to the Celtics, the Magic sent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap to the Grizzlies in exchange for a 20-point-per-game scorer in Bane. Much of the discourse around the Magic was that they didn't have much scoring outside of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and this deal looked to improve that.
Bane is a career 41% three-point shooter and will certainly improve Orlando's offense, which finished 28th in points per game this past season (105.4), only besting the Nets and Hornets.
While the deal could be seen as an overpay to the majority of NBA fans, it goes to show that teams will go to extreme depths to secure talent. Bane has never been named an All-Star, but his style of play and potential fit in their starting five appealed to the Magic enough to send four first-round picks and two rotational players the other way.
What does this mean for the Celtics, who have been receiving trade interest for both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White over the past few weeks? It means that Brad Stevens could be more willing than ever to answer the phone and simply listen to what other teams want to give up for the two Celtics wings, knowing the haul that the Grizzlies received for Bane.
Latest NBA Blockbuster Increases Trade Value of Brown and White
With the Bane trade finalized, it's hard to imagine that the Celtics would accept anything less for Brown or White than what the Grizzlies got for Bane, if they were to make a blockbuster deal of their own.
Brown is a four-time All-Star, Finals MVP, NBA Champion, and a consensus top-25 player in the NBA. He's 28 years old, in the prime of his career, and under contract for four more seasons. While Bane is a good player, he hasn't reached the levels that Brown has as a Celtic. That's why the return the Celtics could get if they traded Brown would be monumental. Instead of two rotational players, Brown would likely bring in two starters and more than five first-round picks in a deal.
Derrick White, on the other hand, would bring home a more similar package to what the Grizzlies received for Bane.
At age 30, White has brought his game to another level in Boston, being named to two All-Defensive teams and seeing a major improvement from behind the arc. In five seasons with the Spurs, White was a 34% three-point shooter on 3.7 attempts per game. Over the past three seasons with the Celtics, White has soared to a 38.7% on 6.8 attempts per game. He's solidified himself as a top "three and D" guard in the game.
The Bane-to-Orlando deal allows Brad Stevens to use leverage when discussing potential trade packages for Brown and White. In turn, the first big trade of the NBA summer just set the market for months to follow.
Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are the more likely candidates to be traded, as the Celtics will be busy when it comes to finding the right deal for both, as the team should still be competitive in a porous Eastern Conference.
I don't believe the Celtics should move Brown or White as they'll be the leaders with Tatum sidelined, but as we know and are reminded time and time again, the NBA is a business. Some deals are just too good to pass up, as there are sure to be plenty more blockbuster trades leading up to the start of next season.