Milwaukee Bucks are about to learn critical lesson Orlando Magic fans already know

Orlando Magic fans recently celebrated acquiring Desmond Bane, viewing him as the perfect complement to their young core and a move propelling them into championship contention. However, this acquisition came at the cost of trading Cole Anthony to the Memphis Grizzlies, a move understood as necessary but emotionally difficult despite Anthony's recent on-court struggles.

Anthony's future quickly became uncertain, with reports indicating the Grizzlies planned to either trade him again or buy out his contract. An agreement was reached for Anthony to leave Memphis and sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, a key Eastern Conference rival of the Magic.

Adding to the connection, the Bucks also signed Gary Harris to a short-term contract. This means Milwaukee now employs both Cole Anthony and Gary Harris, Orlando's primary backup backcourt duo from last season. Both players were effectively discarded by the Magic this offseason after struggling to provide offensive production as the team ascended into Playoff contention, receiving criticism for failing to deliver needed scoring boosts.

The article highlights the curious nature of Milwaukee's decision to acquire this specific backcourt pairing that Orlando felt compelled to move on from to reach championship level. Anthony's struggles last season were noted, averaging a career-low 9.4 points per game on 42.4% shooting, partly due to reduced minutes as Orlando prioritized defensive size with other guards. While he had some standout performances (like 35 points against Miami, a game-winner against Brooklyn, and 22 points/9 assists against Milwaukee in March), he faltered badly in the Playoffs against Boston, scoring only 11 points total in 5 games. Over the last two Playoffs, he averaged just 3.9 points per game on 30.6% shooting.

Gary Harris also produced minimally, facing constant criticism for lack of statistical contribution. He averaged a career-low 3.0 points per game last season and shot 35.6% from three (his worst in five Magic seasons). While he retained a role due to solid defense, even taking minutes from others, his offensive output remained low in the 2024 season (6.9 points per game on 5.5 field goal attempts per game, compared to only 2.8 attempts per game the previous year).