NBA Exec Thinks Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane ‘Can Definitely Be An All-Star Or All-NBA Player’ This Season

One NBA executive told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that he thinks Memphis Grizzlies swingman Desmond Bane can be an All-Star or All-NBA player this season. Bane’s usage rate is going to be high in the first 25 games of the season since Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant won’t play due to a suspension.

An anonymous member of the Grizzlies told Keith Smith of Spotrac that signing Bane to a rookie-scale extension was a “primary objective” for the franchise this offseason. Bane signed a five-year, $197 million extension with Memphis.

“Locking up Desmond was our primary objective this offseason,” the anonymous member of the Grizzlies said. “We now have our entire core under long-term deals. And they are all 25 and under. How many other good teams can say that?”

Bane appeared in 58 games last season for the Grizzlies. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.9% from the field, 40.8% from beyond the arc and 88.3% from the free-throw line. The Grizzlies won 51 games in the regular season and were the second seed in the Western Conference.

However, Memphis lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games. Bane averaged 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the Lakers series. He shot 42.2% overall, 32.0% from 3 and 93.1% from the free-throw line.

Bane was the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Boston Celtics drafted him out of TCU and traded him to the Grizzlies. Bane has career averages of 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists.