How will the Bain deal affect the KD deal? Magic moves are just the beginning of the Eastern arms race?

Translator's Note: This article was originally published from ESPN, and the author is Tim Bontemps. The data in the article are as of the original article as of June 16, local time. The views in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

For the past few weeks, the NBA world has been waiting for a big deal to become a reality.

But the big deal that happened on Sunday was unexpected: Memphis Grizzlies defender Desmond Bain was traded to the Orlando Magic for Caldwell Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a future draft pick swap.

The deal reached on Father's Day morning caused such a huge shock, but the most important point is that it is not a deal involving Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.

However, this is far from the only shock felt in the NBA circle. Here are the reactions of the league insiders to the early, engaging deal that could have a huge ripple effect and far-reaching impact.

Why did Orlando facilitate this deal?

This has become one of the best cold knowledge questions in the NBA circle: Who was the last player the Magic took the initiative to acquire in a trade?

Before Sunday, the answer was former No. 1 pick Markle Fultz. Orlando got him through a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers on the 2019 trade deadline, giving away substitute forward Jonathan Simmons and a protected first-round draft pick (that sign eventually became Terrys Maxi).

But after years of unmoving, Orlando resolutely bet on the bargaining chips, obviously seeing Bain as a key puzzle that can lead the team back to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Magic last won the playoff series 15 years ago. After communicating with several sources in the league, there are many different opinions on whether Bain can change the situation.

Some people think Bain is the perfect adapter - a shooting guard who can defend and shoot up to 41% of his career three-point shooting percentage. The Magic's three-point shooting percentage this season is only 31.7%, making them the worst team in the league in this stat.

"He would be a great addition," an assistant coach told ESPN. "As the third choice of the team, there are actually not many players who can reach his level, and he is the kind of player you can win and have such abilities."

Others questioned the high cost, including contracts (Bain's total salary in the next four years is as high as $163 million) and draft assets to get him.

"(The Grizzlies) completed the contract extension before the second rich line rules came into effect. Now when they look at that contract, their satisfaction has been reduced," said a scout. "He is indeed a very good player, but I never thought he deserves a maximum salary contract."

Several sources revealed that several teams have asked for Bain, but none of them are as active as Orlando.

The reasons are obvious. Bain should be able to fit in perfectly into the backcourt, playing side by side with Jaylen Sages, one of the league’s top defenders, and adding much-needed shooting ability and ability to create shots to a lineup centered on Paul Bankairo and Franz Wagner.

Why is Memphis trading?

Six weeks ago, when the Memphis Grizzlies were swept out by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, team general manager Zach Kleiman bluntly talked about the team's championship window.

"Looking back at this series, I don't think we can say 'Oh, we're close,'" Kleiman told reporters at a season-ending press conference in Memphis.

"We are not close."

By trading Bain, a player who has long formed the core of Memphis with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Kleiman is practicing his remarks with practical actions.

However, more star trades are not expected to happen. Sources told ESPN that the Grizzlies had no intention of trading any of their two remaining cornerstone players. The team has been clearing the cap space for the past few months to complete renegotiation and renewal of Jackson's contract this offseason to prevent him from entering the free agent market in 2026. Sources said they believe the contract renewal will eventually be completed. And the Bain deal provides Memphis with a way to give Jackson more salary on that contract, thus locking it in the long term.

In addition, Memphis handed over the team's command to head coach Thomas Isalo, who hopes to create a fast-paced, emphasizes a large number of pick-and-roll cooperation and three-point shooting systems, aiming to maximize Morant's potential.

Sources said the Grizzlies believe Jaylen Wells can be a long-term starter on the wing position. Wells, as a second round pick, ranked third in the rookie voting for the season. Among the many draft picks obtained in the trade, the most attractive one is the one with the lower pick next year between Phoenix and Washington - the pick is very likely to become a lottery pick and there is a considerable probability that it will eventually fall into the top ten, or even higher.

Now, the Grizzlies believe they can work in multiple directions and continue to try to stay competitive in the West while seeking to improve their strength. But this requires them to take a step back temporarily in a bid to take two steps in the future — or even more.

How does this affect Kevin Durant's potential deal?

When talking to multiple sources after the Bain trade on Sunday, the general consensus was that any draft pick sent to Phoenix for Durant may not be worth more than Memphis’ huge draft asset for Bain, the player who has not yet been selected for the All-Star.

"Everyone must abandon their previous precedents and baselines," said an executive. He not only mentioned the Bain deal, but also the five first-round picks given by the New York Knicks to get Mikal Bridges last year, believing that these deals have nothing to do with how to reasonably evaluate Durant’s value.

"These trades do not mean Durant is worth twelve first-round picks now," they said.

But, what is the exact value of Durant? As the soap opera continues to be staged, this is still a question that people continue to ask in the league.

As ESPN's Shams reported Saturday night, Durant is willing to sign contract renewals with three teams: the Houston Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat. But sources in the league are still talking about the Minnesota Timberwolves being Durant’s potential next home.

What seems clear at the moment is that the deal package will be far less than the huge returns the Brooklyn Nets received from the Durant trade two and a half years ago. The deal was quickly completed within 24 hours after new boss Matt Ishbiya took over the Suns. How Ishbiya will react to this will be a key signal and may determine the direction of the entire process.

Orlando sees opportunities in the new pattern. How does this deal affect other teams in the Eastern Conference?

The deal is the latest ripples caused by Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum's devastating Achilles tendon tear against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

We have good reason to hope and believe Tatum will recover from his injury. The doctor who performed his surgery—Martin O'Malley from New York’s famous specialty surgical hospital—had repaired Durant’s Achilles tendon laceration in 2019. In the short term, however, Boston is almost certain to lose its dominance in the East for most of the past few years, and it is difficult to maintain its dominance in the 2025-26 season.

This created a window for other teams to attack - and Orlando became the first actor.

"For them, they have to give themselves a chance," said one executive. "They have made the playoffs for two consecutive years, but they are both out in the first round. Looking around, they have a bunch of young players who are trying to find out how to move to the next step."

"Theoretically, in the middle of the season, you'd think the Indiana Pacers are in the Magic, you'd feel they can't top it, and the two best teams are obviously Cleveland and Boston."

"But with Boston absent next season, it's going to be fun to see how aggressive the teams will take, because each team will think they can replicate the feat the Pacers have just accomplished."

This move could prompt more teams to accelerate their plans this summer. We have seen the Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau after losing the Eastern Conference Finals, and there are a lot of uncertainty about the Celtics’ roster. The Detroit Pistons may create cap space in pursuit of influential players after an encouraging playoff breakout.

The Philadelphia 76ers believe that if they can keep the team healthy, they are competitive. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who have won 64, will retain their core roster. The issue surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo is still pending in Milwaukee.

"The situation has become much more open, and the bosses will think so," the executive said. "But the Magic still have a chance to be out in the first round. So can the Knicks. All of these teams are possible."

Why draft day could be the most important day of the offseason

The Grizzlies won four draft picks in the Bain trade, the 16th pick in the NBA draft this month. Sources said that given that the Durant trade is likely to happen before this year's draft, some 2025 draft assets are expected to be included in the transaction package.

This summer, teams have basically no salary space - according to ESPN's Bobby Max analysis, the rebuilt Brooklyn Nets is the only team expected to have significant space to operate. In addition, the overall strength of the free agent market this year is limited, and many sources said that the busiest day in the offseason will be June 25, the first round of the draft.

This is the only day on the schedule where all teams have the ability to adjust their roster and seek improvement - this is also likely the only opportunity given the many restrictions the market faces in the following weeks. After a few troublesome months in the league, many teams are trying to cut salaries or simply reorganize the roster, and there are many teams looking to create a sensation. “It feels like this year’s draft night will be more lively than usual,” said one executive.

Plus this draft has two recognized top rookies - No. 1 Cooper Flagage and No. 1 Popular Dylan Harper - and a group of strong and profound rookies, which should be an extremely exciting and entertaining night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.