2023-07-31 08:27:11
The Cleveland Cavaliers have only one pick in the 2023 NBA draft, a mid-second-round pick, and the rookie may not get a chance to play in the upcoming season, but the Cavaliers are Possibly the most high-profile selection of the draft was made in the second round, when they selected former All-American high school student Emoni Bates…
The Cleveland Cavaliers have only one pick in the 2023 NBA draft, a mid-second-round pick, and the rookie may not get a chance to play in the upcoming season, but the Cavaliers are Possibly the most high-profile selection of the draft was made in the second round, when they selected former All-American high schooler Emoni Bates.
When Bates committed to the Memphis Tigers with coach Penny Hardway in 2021, he was expected to be a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. But his road to Cleveland has not been smooth, and his NBA debut will take some patience and time.
Bates was named the 2020 Gatorade All-American, the first high school freshman to receive the award, averaging 32.3 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.1 steals. But he had some problems during his freshman season at Memphis.
Bates has been inconsistent, missing 15 games with a back injury and was in legal trouble last September. He then transferred schools and chose to return to his native Michigan to play for the Eastern Michigan University Hawks.
In one year at Eastern Michigan, Bates averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three-point range. That’s an improvement from what he showed in Memphis, but his shot selection and selfish style are still major issues.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Bates’ apparent star power didn’t lead the Hawks to double-digit wins, but he showed bright spots of his potential. He scored 36 points, including eight 3-pointers, against NBA draft pick GG Jackson and the University of South Carolina.
He scored 30 points in Game 1 against Michigan and scored 43 against Toledo, including 29 in a row. Bates has shown an ability to make even tough shot selections, including pull-up jumpers, drives and scoring with ease from beyond the NBA 3-point line.
However, his efficiency is still not high, but this is also related to his role in carrying the entire offense in one of the worst college basketball schools in the United States, so a shooting master like Bates will be very shooting in some games. Bad, but his scoring ability is undeniable.
Bates has been very good at the combine, shooting 25-of-30 in off-handle shots and finishing second in the 3-point drill, hitting 19-of-25 from beyond the arc.
His frame allows him to show up on the boards, and hopefully that size and some weight gain will get him to a certain level on the defensive end. Bates is only 19 now and still has the body to grow further, which is necessary for him to perform at the NBA level.
However, its disadvantages also exist and are very obvious. Bates has poor vision, rarely engages his teammates on offense, lacks athleticism despite his size, and has terrible shot selection.
Summer league was a microcosm of Bates’ last season at Eastern Michigan. He averaged 17.2 points and 6 rebounds per game, but very, very few assists, and his shooting percentage was only 43.9%. He took more than half of his shots from the 3-point line and led the team in shots taken.
Lots of shots, few assists, poor efficiency. Some of his shooting performances have been impressive, hitting long-range 3s and using his body and dribbling to score in the paint, but Bates clearly wants to shoot as soon as he touches the ball.
Defensively, his length can affect opponents’ shots, and he has a few notable pots, and he obviously has what it takes to be a good defender, but on the summer league team, he is the focal point of the offensive end.
What happens if he doesn’t get the ball? The evolution for Bates will be to become a more team player, finding the floor and getting others involved in the offense. These abilities, combined with his tough shooting skills and size, will be very interesting.
The Cavaliers understand that Bates will need a lot of work, but their organization is solid. Koby Altman is solidly leading the team and has been with the Cavaliers since 2012. Head coach JB Bickerstaff, who joined the team in 2019, has been called one of the players’ favorites. Mike Gerrity joined the Cavaliers in 2013 and has extensive experience in player development.
The Cavaliers locker room has an excellent group of veteran players, and there has been little discontent lately. The team’s vision and goals revolve around making it far in the playoffs and building a team atmosphere (e.g. Caris LeVert’s extension).
Superstar Donovan Mitchell has said he intends to train with Bates and help him. This is a very important support for a second-round player who may not appear on the NBA court this year. Bates will have time in the NBA environment to understand his strengths, weaknesses and develop his improvement plan and communicate with coaches. The group grows together.
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