When the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Emoni Bates in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft they knew it was going to take a bit of time for him to become fully acclimated to the NBA. Even with the potential extended timeline, Bates can still be a big part of Cleveland’s future.
Bates gave a glimpse of what could be on the horizon during the Cavs run to the Summer League title. Averaging 17.2 points and six rebounds per game, Bates was able to be a big time contributor. The rookie was able to make an impact from deep, averaging three makes on seven attempts. This is exactly the type of production Cleveland has been missing from their complimentary players. Being able to convert at this rate would be a game changer once Bates gets his chance.
While the performance of Emoni Bates in Las Vegas is very promising, it should be taken with a massive grain of salt. Summer League means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Sure, seeing Bates’ performance is encouraging, but there is still a long way to go here. This was far from NBA caliber talent that Bates and the rest of the Cavs Summer League roster was facing and that matters.
Emoni Bates and playing the long game
It is important to remember that Emoni Bates was taken in the second round for a reason. Bates is not an explosive player and can have problems when it comes to efficiency. Another thing to keep in mind is that Bates struggled while at Memphis. While he was able to improve during his time at Eastern Michigan, the drop in talent he played against is something worth taking note of.
This is a situation where it is important to play the long game. Emoni Bates is a very promising player, but there is no need to rush him into NBA action. There is still quite a bit of work in regards to his development before he can become an NBA regular. Bates will get his chance to make an impact for the Cavs, it will just take a little bit of time.
