1 for 7 is shocking, the first major deal this summer is reached, the Grizzlies win this time

On this hot summer day, the sudden changes in the NBA free market are always unexpected. Unexpectedly, the first major deal in the free market this year was settled so quickly, and the scale was astonishing. According to well-known reporter Shams, Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies have officially reached a deal. For the Grizzlies, they reluctantly gave up potential star Bain, and gained Pope, Cole Anthony and four valuable first-round draft picks from the Magic, plus a first-round swap. Yes, you heard it right, this is a super deal with 1 for 7! The four first-round picks are: No. 16 in 2025, the unprotected first-round pick from the Suns in 2026 (and have the option to swap with the Wizards), and the unprotected first-round pick from the Magic in 2028 and 2030. The first round of swap rights is from 2029 and is protected by the top two rankings. Such a generous reward makes people sigh at how expensive Bain's value is. Some media even joked that when the Magic made a offer, the Grizzlies once thought that the other party's ambition was their star Morant.

When talking about this transaction, we have to look back on history and look for some classic cases to refer to. Undoubtedly, the Gobert deal between the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the summer of 2022 is an excellent comparison. At that time, Gobert's 1-for-10 deal also shocked the league, and he exchanged for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, Vanderbilt, Kessler, Bormarro, as well as multiple unprotected first-round draft picks and first-round swap rights. Now it seems that Bain's deal is comparable to the number of draft picks, and is even slightly better in some aspects. After all, all the four first-round picks Bain exchanged are unprotected.

Of course, the difference in player positions may make such a direct comparison slightly one-sided. So, let’s look at another classic deal in recent years - the Jazz trade Mitchell. In that deal, the Jazz got Sexton, Markanen, Abakki, as well as three unprotected first-round picks and two first-round swap rights. Mitchell, who was traded, averaged 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game that season, with shooting percentages of up to 44.8%, 35.5% and 85.3% respectively in the three events. Such performance undoubtedly proves Mitchell's superstar potential and indirectly reflects the extraordinary value of Bain's transaction.

To sum up, Bain's 1-for-7 deal undoubtedly dropped a bombshell for the NBA free market this summer. It not only demonstrates Bain's excellent value, but also sets a new benchmark for subsequent player transactions. In this league full of variables, every deal can become a turning point that rewrites the team's fate. Let us look forward to what kind of surprises and shocks the free market will bring us in the future.

When formally discussing Bain's value and its trading background, we had to analyze his outstanding performance last season in depth: averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, while maintaining a 48.4% shooting percentage, 39.2% three-point shooting percentage and an astonishing 89.4% free throw percentage. This series of data undoubtedly provides a solid basis for Bain's high value. However, for some observers, the transfer value may still be confusing, especially when this confusion is particularly noticeable considering the quality of the two players the Magic have paid to match Bain’s contract. The Magic's move seems to suggest that the two contracts are seen as a burden to some extent, prompting them to increase the number of first-round picks to facilitate the deal.

Further examine the salary structure in the transaction, Pope and Cole Anthony's salary levels are equally eye-catching. Pope's annual salary next season is as high as $21.62 million, but his average of 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game is indeed a bit insufficient compared to his salary ranking second in the Magic. Cole Anthony contributed 9.4 points, 3 rebounds and 2.9 assists with an annual salary of $13.1 million, which also triggered discussions on its cost-effectiveness. Against this background, Bain's annual salary of $35.7 million, especially considering the five-year maximum salary contract he signed with the Grizzlies last summer (effective from the summer of 2024, with four years remaining), is undoubtedly particularly prominent.

However, considering Bain's salary in a broader league context, we will find that players with similar annual salary include Maxi, Lamelo Ball, Harden, Adebayo, Fox, Sages, Ayton, Gobert, Brunson and Jaylen Green. By comparison, Bain's annual salary of 36 million does not seem unacceptable, which to some extent reflects the general expansion of the current league's salary structure.

As for the rating of this transaction, it needs to be considered in a variety of factors. It is worth noting that Bain himself seemed to be unaware of this before the transaction occurred, and this sudden change undoubtedly increased the complexity of the transaction. In addition, Bain was involved in a bench conflict this season and overturned his teammate Aldama on the bench. Although this incident has subsided, it undoubtedly casts a shadow on his professional image and also suggests potential instability.

To sum up, Bain's transaction not only involves complex salary matching and player value assessment, but also implies considerations such as team culture, player mentality and future planning. The final evaluation of this transaction may take time to settle, waiting for the reactions of all parties and the subsequent development to be further clarified.