The Magic have long needed an upgrade at the shooting guard position, and they’ve taken a significant swing at addressing the issue with Sunday’s reported trade. In 69 games this season, he averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 89.4 percent from the foul line. Bane has been one of the best shooting guards in the NBA over the last three seasons, due to the ability to both knock down perimeter shots and defend his position. Given the state of the Eastern Conference, Orlando’s decision to make this move is understandable, as it significantly improves the starting lineup.

Bane did not have the most efficient game, recording five turnovers and shooting 35 percent from the field. However, he went out firing, helping to give Memphis a chance of extending its season. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 44, Bane finished as a top-40 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Providing consistent value has rarely been an issue for the Grizzlies’ guard, but his value in 2025-26 will be influenced by who the team hires as its new head coach.

Bane has not been able to get untracked offensively, which is a credit to the Oklahoma City defense. After shooting 10-of-29 from the field in the first two games, the Grizzlies’ guard did not benefit from a return to the friendly confines of FedEx Forum. Add in Ja Morant’s hip injury, and Bane has hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. He did record a complete stat line, but that isn’t enough for a player of Bane’s caliber. The Grizzlies will look to extend their season on Saturday when they host Game 4 of the series.

While Bane didn’t have a big night scoring the basketball, he found a way to impact the game in other ways. Bane led Memphis in rebounding, was second in total assists, and was the only member of the Grizzlies to notch a double-double in the loss. He’ll have another chance to stuff the stat sheet on Thursday when the Grizzlies take on the Thunder in Memphis for Game 3.