OKC Thunder draft prospect profile: Desmond Bane

TCU guard Desmond Bane offers strong perimeter scoring and a high IQ but isn’t a player the OKC Thunder should be targeting with their pick.

Desmond Bane is one of the few seniors in the 2020 NBA Draft class. As such he’ll be able to contribute to his drafting team immediately. With the OKC Thunder selecting 25th in the first round Bane isn’t likely to be available when Sam Presti selects.

Moreover, with the Thunder headed into a new era of repositioning Presti will likely be looking for young prospects with high ceilings that Mark Daigneault and his staff will be able to develop and nurture as they position themselves for the near future.

With that, let’s look at Desmond Bane and his profile heading into the draft this week.

Desmond Bane draft prospect preview:

Specifics:

• Height: 6’6″
• Weight: 215 pounds
• Wingspan: 6’5”
• Position: Wing
• Birthdate/Age: June 25, 1998, 22.4 years
• College: TCU, senior
• Stat line: 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals
• Home Town: Richmond, Indiana

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/15/2020.

Current Ranking:

Projected to be selected in the early 20s although some sites list him at the end of the first-round or early in the second-round. Bane is impressing in his interviews though as evidenced by his leap up many boards in recent days.

• The Ringer: 20th
• NBA DraftNet: 33rd (originally listed Bane way down at 59th)
• ESPN: 34th
• CBS Sports: 22nd
• NBA: 32nd
• Sports Illustrated: 34th
• Bleacher Report: 22nd

Strengths:

• Quality character
• Full four-year senior who improved each year
• Top-level perimeter sniper (44.2 percent on 6.5 attempts per game).
• Gritty demeanor mixed with high IQ and is a team-first player

Weaknesses:

• Physical limitations affect his abilities such as a slow first step offensively
•  Size also impacts his defense particularly in man to man defense. Oddly while he is 6’6″ his wingspan is shorter (6’5″).
• Needs to bolster his dribbling and playmaking

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer lists Malcolm Brogdon, Alex Caruso, and Lamar Patterson as possible NBA comparisons.

OKC Thunder fit:

Every team can benefit from a perimeter sharpshooter with a high IQ and quality character. Desmond Bane fits that description to a T.  The TCU senior is projected to be selected in the early 20 range which is prior to the OKC Thunder 25th pick.

In truth, Bane would be best served playing on a top-level team contributing off the bench instead of playing with a lottery team. Although there are areas of his games he needs to develop as a senior he’s better primed to contribute to a varsity club immediately.