Memphis Grizzlies: Why Desmond Bane should be a starter in ’21

Memphis Grizzlies sharpshooter Desmond Bane is deserving of a spot in the starting lineup in 2021

Last season, the rookie out of TCU proved to be an integral part of the Grizzlies run to making the playoffs last season.

His immediate impact was surprising to many, simply for the fact that he was drafted and inserted to the lineup without a training camp or summer league during his rookie season.

Bane averaged 9.9 points per game in the month of May, shooting 48% from the field. He was even more lethal during the first round series against the Utah Jazz, in which Bane shot 50% from three during the five games the teams played.

After a few weeks of training and workouts, Bane joined the Memphis Grizzlies summer league team to play four games. He ended up being the third leading scorer among all summer league participants (24.0 ppg). That’s not all, as he shot lights out from three, hitting 13-of-26 in 27.6 minutes per game.

Bane has proved himself not just to Memphis Grizzlies personnel, but to NBA fans across the league. The Step Back named him as one of five second-year players who are primed for a breakout year.

If Head Coach Taylor Jenkins decides to play an up-tempo, three-point-shooting lineup, then Bane will be a virtual lock to start in 2021. You could envision a lineup of Ja Morant, Bane, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson and Jaren Jackson Jr. — all capable of knocking down threes consistently.

Jenkins could even look to a lineup of Morant, Bane, Brooks, Jackson, and Steven Adams that would provide some great pick n’ roll AND pick n’ pop options for the wing players.

The most exciting use could feature Bane initiating the offense, much like he did in summer league, which would allow Morant to play off the ball. Can you imagine Adams setting a backdoor screen, sending Morant to the rim for a devastating alley-oop? It was effective this summer, perhaps we’ll see it during training camp runs or preseason action in the next couple of weeks.