Former Tar Heel Cole Anthony involved in an early NBA offseason trade

The NBA Finals is still ongoing, but that hasn't stopped the teams who are in offseason mode from wheeling and dealing.

A few days ago, it was reported that former UNC basketball player Cole Anthony could be on the move. Given the Orlando Magic's depth in the backcourt, along with Anthony's decreasing role, it made sense that he would be a player to keep an eye on in the trade market.

Well, that trade has been made, as Anthony's next stop takes him to the Western Conference.

The Magic agreed to a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, as first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. The full details of the trade can be found below:

Desmond Bane is the headliner of this deal, as Orlando is in "win now mode,'" looking to build around the trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. For a team that struggled mightily shooting the basketball from beyond-the-arc a season ago, Bane should help improve the team in that area, given he's knocked down 800 three-pointers while shooting over a 40% clip since entering the league back in 2020.

Memphis received a haul in return for Bane, especially in regard to future first round picks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope provides them with a steady wing presence with elite defensive ability, while Anthony could be a really strong option off the bench, helping provide some offensive spark while Ja Morant takes a rest.

With the 2025 NBA Draft approaching, it was expected that Orlando would try to make a deal sooner rather than later. They got their guy, hoping that he's one of the pieces to help take this team to the next level during the 2025-2026 season.

As for Anthony, a fresh start in Memphis could be good, especially considering that he should be a heavy contributor for the Grizzlies in whatever role they elect to utilize him in.