WASHINGTON — When the Magic made a blockbuster trade over the summer to acquire Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies, Orlando did so to help improve their 3-point shooting problems.

Through six games, however, Bane has shot a career-low 25% from distance and has attempted the fewest amount of long-range shots (4.7) since his rookie season in Memphis (four per night) entering Saturday’s road matchup against the Wizards.

The 6-foot-5 guard isn’t concerned yet.

“Throughout my entire career in this league, I’ve been a 40% 3-point shooter so it’s just a part of it,” Bane said after Saturday morning shootaround at Capital One Arena.

To his credit, six games is a small sample size, but Orlando has had a difficult time generating open shots from beyond the arc. Opposing defenses have also done a solid job forcing him off the 3-point line, which has led to him drive to the paint instead or find open teammates (seven assists at Charlotte).

Bane has averaged just 1.8 shots from beyond the arc per night where the closest defender was 6-plus feet away (meaning they’re wide-open looks), according to league-tracking data. In those instances, he’s shot a mere 18.2%, which is significantly lower than the 46.9% he shot last season when he averaged 2.4 “wide-open” 3-point attempts per night.

His 3-point frequency, a percentage of Bane’s total field-goal attempts that are 3-point shots, is also down from 41.4% last season to 32.2% to start the season, according to NBA.com.

“He’s one of those guys that he’s such a threat on the 3-point line that he’s able to get downhill, but, in my opinion, one of the reasons we got him was because of his 3-point shooting,” Wendell Carter Jr. said this week. “We’ve got to find ways to get him cleaner, easier looks, instead of off the dribble, even though he can do both.”

Bane believes it’s just a matter of time before things click from distance.

“It’ll come,” he said. “I’ve had multiple stretches like that. It’s basketball. Some nights you get a ton and some nights you get a few.”

Penda’s play

After not appearing in the first three game of the regular season, Magic rookie Noah Penda has not only played in three straight but has also seen his minutes increase each night.

The second-round pick played 7 minutes in Philadelphia, 12 in Detroit and 17 in Charlotte.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley believes the second-round pick has grown more comfortable in his role.

“We’ve thrown him in different situations and one thing about him is he can guard multiple positions,” Mosley said about the 6-7 forward. “He’s not afraid of the moment and does a great job crashing the glass. He’s doing all of the things that we’re asking him to do when he steps on the floor.”

Penda, 20, is averaging 3.3 points and two rebounds per night in 11.8 minutes but he’s portrayed poise at young age on the defensive end that’s caught the attention of his teammates.

“I’m impressed of just his calmness,” Jonathan Isaac recently said. “[Thursday] he had a couple stampede drives that turned into points for us. And he’s playing great defense. So, he’s a high energy guy and doesn’t need much in terms of touching the ball, but he’s locked in.

“He has a great outlook on the game right now,” Isaac added. “He’s just coming in when he’s called and playing hard.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Magic at Hawks

When: 8, Tuesday, State Farm Arena

TV: NBC/Peacock