NBA Wires roundtable: Desmond Bane projected to go to Nets at No. 19

USA TODAY SMG’s NBA Wires staff simulated a mock draft ahead of the 2020 NBA draft on Wednesday.

While Desmond Bane is not one of the three players who’ve confirmed they worked out for the Nets ahead of the 2020 NBA draft — guard Tyrell Terry, RJ Hampton and Theo Maledon making up the trio — the TCU sharpshooter is among those who met with Brooklyn via Zoom.

When it came time to make a selection for Brooklyn in the mock draft conducted by the editors of USA TODAY’s NBA Wires, Bane was the best option for the Nets on the board, especially knowing they have an interest in him.

Teams can’t have enough long-range shooters, especially Brooklyn as it looks to gather players who can spot up for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant along the perimeter. In each of his four seasons at TCU, Bane proved he can be that guy for the Nets.

Bane might not fight into the mix right away, but he gives the Nets another 3-point threat if some of their more expensive investments don’t pan out.

Nets Wire also picked on behalf of the New York Knicks in the NBA Wires mock draft, selecting Obi Toppin with the eighth overall pick in the draft and Tre Jones with the No. 27 selection — the latter being a pick that no longer belongs to the Knicks after they trading the No. 27 and No. 38 picks for the Utah Jazz’s first-round pick at No. 23.

Head on over to Rookie Wire for the full NBA Wires roundtable: 2020 NBA mock draft.