logo
How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Grizzlies to the Magic affect the Boston Celtics?

How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Grizzlies to the Magic affect the Boston Celtics?

USA Today20-06-2025
How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Grizzlies to the Magic affect the Boston Celtics?
How does the Desmond Bane trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Orlando Magic affect the Boston Celtics, if at all? The Magic ponied up four first round draft picks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony to secure Bane to their roster as they mushed their chips in to make a run at the 2026 NBA Finals in what is looking like a down season for Boston while star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles tendon injury.
Does this move change the order of the NBA's Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 NBA season? What about in future seasons? Was the move an overpay, or did it make sense given the market and the assets going out in the deal?
The hosts of the CLNS Media "The Big Three NBA" podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani Lunis took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk the trade and its impact over. Check it out below!
If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: https://ytubl.ink/3Ffk
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The rare opportunity Cooper Flagg has that makes him feel ‘blessed'
The rare opportunity Cooper Flagg has that makes him feel ‘blessed'

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

The rare opportunity Cooper Flagg has that makes him feel ‘blessed'

Cooper Flagg is in a rare, but fortunate situation. Most first overall draft picks are tasked with instantly becoming the No. 1 option of a team coming off all-time-low types of seasons – but Flagg won't necessarily have that burden as he joins a Dallas Mavericks team alongside likely future Hall of Famers Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Advertisement 'A lot of people in this position or this situation aren't granted this opportunity, so I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I've been given,' Flagg said Friday during his Mavericks introductory press conference. 'I'm just looking forward to being a sponge. Just getting down here, I'm excited to just learn, soak it all in and learn from the guys that are older and have been through it all before.' Cooper Flagg at his introductory press conference alongside Mavericks GM Nico Harrison (left) and head coach Jason Kidd (right). NBAE via Getty Images Dallas is fresh off a 2024 NBA Finals appearance led by now-Laker Luka Doncic, but the Mavericks found themselves in the draft lottery following season-derailing injuries to Davis and Irving following the blockbuster Doncic trade. With just a 1.8 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft, the unthinkable became reality as the Mavericks captured Flagg. Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL but will likely be in the mix for the Mavericks at the end of next season. AP Despite missing the playoffs, the foundation remains for the team to be contenders with a roster that, aside from Doncic, remained mostly intact after the 2024 finals run. Advertisement While Irving likely won't return from his ACL injury until the back half of the season, Davis and another future Hall of Famer, Klay Thompson, who was added last offseason, should provide plenty of stability for Flagg to find his NBA footing while not needing to instantly take on a colossal workload. 'Those guys have so much knowledge,' Flagg said of his new veteran teammates. 'They've been through so much, and they have so much experience that it's just going to be an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow under them.' Anthony Davis was acquired by the Mavericks in the Luka Doncic trade but dealt with injuries upon his arrival. Getty Images While he may not be the No. 1 option right away, Flagg will seemingly take the torch of the franchise that was passed first from Dirk Nowitzki to Doncic. Advertisement 'I'm coming in just trying to learn and trying to get better every single day,' Flagg said. 'If I can do that to the best of my ability, I think expectations and pressures that other people will put on me and our team, that will kind of work itself out. 'So I'm just trying to come in and be the best that I can be and just win at the highest level.'

Mavericks' Jason Kidd details ‘uncomfortable' summer league plans for Cooper Flagg
Mavericks' Jason Kidd details ‘uncomfortable' summer league plans for Cooper Flagg

Yahoo

time10 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Mavericks' Jason Kidd details ‘uncomfortable' summer league plans for Cooper Flagg

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is already plotting ways to challenge Cooper Flagg. Kidd knows what kind of skillset the No. 1 pick brings to the table, but he emphasized on Friday that the upcoming NBA Summer League will be a chance for Flagg to expand his game in a role that's atypical for him. Advertisement 'I don't look at the position,' Kidd said. 'I want to put him at point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts, being able to run the show.' The 6-foot-8 forward has just about everything in his bag of tricks as a player, but running as the primary point guard would certainly be creative for the former Duke star. While it's an experiment that likely wouldn't carry over too much into the regular season, especially with Kyrie Irving eventually returning from his ACL injury, Kidd is excited to see how his rookie would respond. 'We want to push,' Kidd continued. 'And I think he's going to respond in a positive way. It's all right to fail. It's all right to turn the ball over. We've talked about that.' Advertisement Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban is on the same page with Kidd, too. Cooper Flagg and Jason Kidd spoke to media at Flagg's introductory press conference Friday. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Cooper Flagg smiles during his introductory press conference. AP 'I'm sending a text to J-Kidd, I'm like, 'point guard, point guard, point guard, let him bring the ball up,'' Cuban said Friday, detailing Flagg's potential with Dallas. 'Cooper at point guard, Klay (Thompson) at the two, P.J. (Washington) at the three, [Anthony Davis] and then [Dereck Lively] and (Daniel) Gafford — we're going to have the biggest team in the NBA.' With veterans all throughout the Mavericks' roster, the former Duke phenom projects to have a comfortable workload in the regular season as opposed to a massive one that a No. 1 pick may typically get — but this challenge from Kidd should keep Flagg extra busy in the summer league. Advertisement And there may not be a better current coach in the NBA to learn point-guard skills from than Kidd, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest pure point guards of all time. Kidd, who coached the Bucks from 2014-2018, mentioned that he employed similar tactics when coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose playmaking prowess has greatly progressed over the years.

New Nuggets trade acquisition Jonas Valanciunas could leave for Greece in wild turn
New Nuggets trade acquisition Jonas Valanciunas could leave for Greece in wild turn

New York Post

time24 minutes ago

  • New York Post

New Nuggets trade acquisition Jonas Valanciunas could leave for Greece in wild turn

Don't go buying that Jonas Valanciunas Nuggets swag just yet. The veteran big man is 'close' to joining Greek team Panathinaikos in a shocking turn after Denver agreed to acquire him from Sacramento earlier this week, according to Valanciunas, 33, reportedly has been offered a three-year deal worth roughly $13 million per season. The Nuggets would pay him $10.395 million this upcoming season and have a team option worth $10 million for the 2026-27 season. Valanciunas could seek a buyout to head to Greece, per NBA Insider Marc Stein. However, doing so would put the two NBA teams involved in this transaction in a tough spot. 4 Jonas Valanciunas is thinking of playing in Greece. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Nuggets landed the former first-round pick in a trade that sent Dario Saric to the Kings, but the deal cannot be completed until the new league year begins July 6. The teams are still expected to proceed with the deal despite the uncertainty, per The Denver Post. The deal gives the Nuggets a better interior piece to serve as Nikola Jokic's backup with two possible years of control, while the Kings freed up future space since Saric is on an expiring deal. Valancinuas, a native of Lithuania who played in Europe for four seasons before entering the NBA, at first liked joining the Nuggets, since he would be on a championship contender, per 4 The Nuggets though they had a backup for Nikola Jokic. AP However, the offer from the Greek powerhouse changed the complexion. The deal provides more financial security over a longer stretch, while also allowing him to play for a championship contender, according to the outlet. 4 Panathinaikos is a EuroLeague powerhosue. Giannis Alexopoulos/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Valanciunas cannot just head to the EuroLeague, though, since the Nuggets hold his rights, as noted by The Denver Post. The sides could potentially try to agree to a buyout or a contract restructuring closer to the offered terms, while it's always possible Denver could agree to decline his player option next season. One major concern for the Nuggets is that there are few quality centers available to obtain at this point, although Al Horford has yet to agree to a deal. Denver, after falling to the champion Thunder in seven games in the second round, has already agreed to one blockbuster this offseason in sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Nets for Cam Johnson. 4 Valancinuas during an April 2025 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Valancinuas has played for five teams in his 13-season career and has averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds last season with the Kings and Wizards. He's tallied 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for his career.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store