Don't forget Memphis also got scammed by Parsons after Dallas got completely burned by him. Seems like they're learning.
I'd do that and send Jackson away, as well. If they want to keep Morant, then they have to keep Jackson to at least appear to be competing.
Now they bank on internal growth with the hope that Morant and Triple J can get back to relevancy. They could promote guys like Scottie Pippen and Gigi Jackson. Add KCP and Cole Ant.
He had serious injuries and glad he's okay now, but Parsons started 370 regular season games in a nine year career and made almost $130 million. For perspective Luka, although to be fair was on a rookie contract/extension, has started 400 games last year in 23-24' and made $110 million. Parsons had a super agent and they way he secured the bag was beyond impressive
When we acquired Harden, he was 23. Jalen Green is 23. Think about that. When we traded Harden to the Nets, he was 31, just after he won the scoring title 3 years in a roll.
Ja is resistant to authority, defiant, and is towing the line of his own demise, but ultimately, it's not end of the world stuff. He plays the position we need, he's the alpha scorer we need, he's the right age, and he fits our high-flying style. What Memphis wants to do, nobody knows. But he's a fit.
Similarly to the Jalen Green experience, the Magic have not been functioning with Banchero at all. All three seasons Banchero has had a negative on/off, while Wagner has had one of the highest on/offs in the entire league. Perhaps Desmond Bane will help those Banchero lineups become a positive instead of dragging the team down.
I mean they can get shooters no need for 4 frp. Cam Johnson can be had for 1 lotto pick trade down right? 4 frp I expect Derrick White not Bane. Bane shot 32% in the playoffs not exactly a needle mover.
Best take so far. Desmond Bane is a top 30 or so player in the NBA currently in his prime. Those players have a lot of value. The Grizzlies also had to absorb the KCP contract which is looking like a really bad deal with 3 years left. He lost his ability to shoot once he joined the Magic and no longer looks like a starter. It would have required a couple of firsts just to dump that particular contract. Acquiring Desmond Bane was the additional cost of doing business. Those future Magic picks are likely to be later picks. Their foundation of Paolo, Franz and Suggs will still be in their prime when those picks convey. Bane will still likely be an excellent player. Desmond Bane would have been an ideal Jalen Green upgrade. Maybe the Rockets made an offer and the Grizzlies just didn't want Jalen Green on their roster. I would have given up a lot of picks for a Jalen for Bane deal. He would have solved a lot of our problems and is a much better fit than KD.
Anthony Davis is a much better player than KCP though. AD was the value in that deal. The Mavericks still would have received a much better return had they made Luka available to the entire NBA. The Mavericks miraculously ended up with Cooper Flagg though so I guess it worked out.
