The Cleveland Cavaliers have big expectations for Emoni Bates in his second season as a pro, and that starts with a trip back to Las Vegas for a shot at a second consecutive Summer League Title.
Bates spent most of this rookie season in the G-League, but has the tools to be a contributor on the NBA level.
With that NBA experience, should Bates be able to dominate the Summer League?
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.
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Негізгі бет Emoni Bates Summer League Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers forward should DOMINATE his competition
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