Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Desmond Bane

Projecting a potential fit with the Atlanta Hawks for Desmond Mane.

The Atlanta Hawks could go in just about any direction at the 2020 NBA Draft when/where that actually takes place. Their major need this off-season is depth, and they could seek help at nearly any position during the summer.

If they decide to go the route of taking a shooting guard, one player they could look into is TCU’s Desmond Bane.

Bane spent four years with Texas Christian, improving steadily each season. He had a fantastic senior year after briefly considering entering the draft last summer, averaging 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in his 36 minutes per game.

The 6’5 guard can do a bit of everything on the court and could make for a solid three-and-D guy in the league one day. Bane shot 43 percent from three across his four collegiate seasons while making strides defensively.

There’s still room for improvement on that end, however, and his mediocre defensive rating looks out of place next to first-round shooting guards like Josh Green, Devin Vassell, and Jahmi’us Ramsey.

Offensively, he can occasionally break the mold of the regular 3-and-D cone and can create his own looks. Bane is dangerously athletic in transition and a great finisher with a full head of steam.

His handle is a bit stiff for him to get to the rim much outside of fast-break opportunities, but anyone guarding Bane is on poster-watch for that night.

Fit with Atlanta Hawks:

As a prospect, Bane is similar to what De’Andre Hunter was last summer. A slightly older wing who can come in and contribute on both ends right away.

It’s easy to imagine Bane coming in and getting 10-15 minutes off the Hawks bench next season, and he would give the second unit a nice athletic boost. He has the potential to be a microwave scorer and a three-point sniper, two attributes always desired in the modern NBA.

Should the Atlanta Hawks target Desmond Bane?