Where would Desmond Bane land in a 2020 NBA re-draft?
Bane could very well be a top-3 pick
This leaves us with Haliburton, Maxey, Vassell, and Bane. Honestly, by looking at their stat line, this could very well be a topic of personal preference.
Haliburton 2022-23 stats: 21.7 points, 5 rebounds, 9.7 assists per game
Maxey 2022-23 stats: 23.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4 assists per game
Vassell 2022-23 stats: 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4 assists per game
Bane 2022-23 stats: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game
Haliburton has been spectacular for both Sacramento and Indiana and is currently leading the league in assists. Maxey is the X-factor on a contending 76ers team and could be the difference on Philadelphia winning it all.
Meanwhile, NBA writer Mark Schindler argued a few days ago that he would take Vassell over Bane and Maxey:
Already a more impactful defender than I think either will track to become and his scoring trajectory along with continued playmaking growth has me pretty confident in his future still
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) November 8, 2022
Fwiw, would’ve had Vassell over both before the draft and would maintain the same now
If it was up to me, I would take Desmond Bane over all three of the players mentioned above.
What differentiates him from Maxey and Haliburton is defense. While you will most likely not see him notching an All-Defensive team selection, he is an above-average defender and has the quickness and strength to hold his own against the league’s top guards.
As far as Schindler’s take on Vassell, I’d respectfully disagree. Devin is making his own leap this season, but as of now, Bane remains the better playmaker and scorer, being a reliable second option on a contending team. We haven’t seen enough of Vassell to comfortably say that he could get picked over Bane, at least not yet.
In conclusion, Desmond Bane would land way higher than his original spot in a 2020 NBA re-draft. What’s for sure is that many teams are regretting not grabbing him when they had the chance.