By R.L. Bynum
After playing his first five NBA seasons with the Orlando Magic, guard Cole Anthony is headed to the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Sunday that Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks and the No. 16 pick in this year’s NBA draft are going from Orlando to Memphis in exchange for Desmond Bane.
Anthony averaged career-lows of 18.1 minutes, 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game last season while tying his career-low with 2.9 assists over 67 games. Over his five seasons at Orlando, he averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Anthony only started 22 games last season, and cracking the starting lineup won’t be any easier next season with Ja Morant entrenched at point guard and Caldwell-Pope the likely starter at the two spot. Anthony will also compete with Scotty Pippen Jr. and former Duke guard Luke Kennard for playing time.
Anthony’s best game last season was in a 121–114 Dec. 21 home game against Miami, when he scored 35 points.
During Anthony’s only season at Carolina, the 2019–20 season, he averaged 21.2 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Orlando had the worst 3-point shooting percentage in a season (31.8%) since the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015–16, with Anthony making 35.3% of his shots from outside the arc. Bane figures to help that area since he’s shot 43.2% on catch-and-shoot 3s in the last five seasons.
Photo via @orlandomagic
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