When Kentavious Caldwell-Pope arrived in the Desmond Bane trade this past offseason, those who followed the Memphis Grizzlies felt cautious optimism with a sprinkle of apathy. The exchange of players - Bane for KCP and Cole Anthony (who was later waived by Memphis) from the Orlando Magic - was more for contract-matching purposes. The real star of the transaction in the eyes of most was the four first-round picks the Magic parted with.
Caldwell-Pope, who signed a contract in free agency with Orlando the previous summer, was supposed to be what Bane would eventually become for the Eastern Conference contender.