How Letting KCP Walk Changed the NBA Landscape—And Left Nuggets Fans Wondering ‘What If?’
Some real Butterfly Effect stuff going on here
Memphis Grizzlies v Denver Nuggets | Matthew Stockman/GettyImages
The NBA Finals aren’t even over yet, and we’ve already had the first blockbuster trade of the offseason on Sunday morning. The Magic and Grizzlies have agreed to a deal that sends Desmond Bane to Orlando in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a swap.
Magic now contenders in the East
The Magic have built a nice young core with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, but they badly needed shooting and scoring. They landed a perfect fit in Bane, a great offensive player who can run the offense or play off the ball and won’t monopolize things too much. He should add great spacing while Franz and Paolo operate, and he can act as a point guard when desired.
One of the best parts of the trade for Orlando is that they didn’t compromise their identity or defense. There were talks about them going after players like Trae Young or Anfernee Simons, but those guys need the ball all the time in a way that could actually stunt the growth and excellence of Banchero and Wagner. Adding those guys would have also created a clear defensive liability, which Bane will not be at all.
Great trade return offers Grizzlies options
For the Grizzlies, it marks the end of an era with the Bane, Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. big three. We expected a change, but this move is a bit unexpected. It’s a great return for Memphis, pulling in four unprotected first-round picks and two role players for their third-best player. It also now puts them at a bit of a crossroads.
They can turn around with their new assets and go for a big swing like Kevin Durant or Giannis. Or they can lean fully into the tank and offload their other stars for even more picks and young players. It’s a fascinating shift in the NBA, and a great way to kick off the offseason either way, and it may not have ever been possible without the Nuggets.
Trade may never happen without Denver letting KCP walk in free agency
The draft picks were the main motivation for the Grizzlies in this deal, but the money still needed to work to match salaries, and that was largely possible thanks to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the $21.6 million he’ll make next season. He would have been the third-highest player on the team, behind only Wagner and Suggs (Banchero’s extension will kick in next season).
The Nuggets, of course, could have matched the offer that Orlando made last offseason to lure away the two-time champion, but Denver declined, letting him walk. It was a very tough decision for the Nuggets, and they badly missed KCP at times this season.
But the reality of the situation is that Orlando’s deal for KCP was still an overpay, as he didn’t even average 10 points per game last season. The Nuggets made the right call, and KCP was mostly viewed as dumping salary here by the Magic. But still, they needed his money to make this happen.
Nuggets still in a tough position this offseason
Sadly, even if the Nuggets had kept KCP, it’s not like they could have made this deal work. They don’t have nearly the draft capital that was required, and they don’t really even have a somewhat promising young player like Anthony.
Who knows how any of the three teams look today if KCP hadn’t gone to Orlando, but I’m sure things would look very different. Ultimately, it’s just one more footnote on a move from last season while the Nuggets sit by idly, still waiting to hire a GM, while other teams are already making big moves and improving their rosters.