Bates has a chance to show how his game has improved in the last year.
Emoni Bates remains one of the most intriguing developmental projects in basketball. The Cleveland Cavaliers hope he can manifest some of his untapped potential in a second Las Vegas Summer League stint.
Bates fell to 49th in the 2023 NBA Draft after ranking as the top prospect in his class during high school. His developmental path has been full of twists and turns but a full year of stability in Cleveland has given him a roadmap worth following.
“I really wouldn’t say I want to prove anything to anybody,” Bates told reporters ahead of this year’s trip to Vegas. “I just feel like going out there and playing the game I love.”
The Cavs have been patient with Bates. He spent the majority of his time last year in the G-League where he was placed in an environment to freely work on his game. Cleveland Charge head coach Mike Gerrity gave enough opportunity for Bates to play with the ball in his hands while also hammering home the importance of working without it.
“A lot of the things that we had been emphasizing throughout the season, we saw come more naturally to him,” Gerrity said about Bates. “Just playing quicker and faster when he doesn’t have the ball.”
Being a three-point shooter comes naturally to Bates. But fully realizing that skill at the NBA level has not been as seamless. He never developed a knack for moving without the ball and had athletic limitations, from a lack of explosiveness to a thin frame, that he needed to overcome once entering the league.
Bates has reportedly gained 26 pounds since last season — a huge accomplishment and something to watch for in Las Vegas. Can he absorb more contact and better initiate offense now that he has packed on muscle? Or is weighing under 200 pounds at 6’9” still an obstacle he has to overcome?
Regardless, rounding out his offensive game is the key. Bates is a knockdown standstill shooter but should look to include some motion into his shot profile. Improving as a playmaker and on-ball creator is the next step. He should have ample opportunity to show this in Summer League.
“Getting to my spots without wasting dribbles,” Bates said. “Really, just being an overall player, trying to be better at all the aspects that I wasn’t as good at last year.”
Becoming a competent defender might take more time. The nuances of NBA defense can be tough for anyone to grasp — let alone a sophomore who is still months away from being able to drink at a bar. But Bates has consistently given effort on this end of the floor which is worth commemorating for a player who clearly understands his strengths and weaknesses.
Bates is well aware of where he needs to improve. Putting in the work and showing tangible growth is what comes next. For Bates, another go at Summer League gives him the chance to show what kind of work he has put in.
