What happened: Desmond Bane's 2025 trade continues to frame conversations around the price of top young NBA talent. The package included four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round swap and two guards.
Why it matters: The return remains a reference point as teams weigh the cost of acquiring established perimeter scoring. It also illustrates how demand for draft control can shape negotiations years beyond a completed deal.
What to watch: Watch whether subsequent major trades match the draft-pick premium set by Bane's deal.