The Cleveland Cavaliers take controversial prospect Emoni Bates

The Cleveland Cavaliers have drafted Emoni Bates.

Former Sports Illustrated prospect and easily one of the most hyped players in recent memory, Emoni Bates, is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bates was once the early No. 1 prospect in the 2022 draft. His early years in high school had a lot of people comparing him to Kevin Durant who was at one point the No. 1 recruit coming out of high school.

He would eventually be somewhere in the top five for all high school prospects when he ended up coming out of high school as a junior. Rivals had him at No. 4, ESPN at No. 3, and 247 Sports at No. 5. He would end up going to Memphis where he would struggle.

After flaming out at Memphis, we went to Eastern Michigan where he became the team’s focal point. Why Bates’ scoring went up, his efficiency was never there, nor was he an impact player, as the team won just eight games with him as the star. His shooting splits weren’t even good, they were beyond mediocre at best. He shot less than 41% from the floor, just 33% from three, and just 78% from the free throw line.

These were near identical numbers that he put up at Memphis, and he played against less superior talent at Eastern Michigan.

Then at the NBA Combine, he put up some of the worst numbers for all players when it came to measurables. His height, wingspan, vertical leap, and other measurables were considered subpar or bad for a man his size.

And for a “scorer”, he only shot 36% from three in the combine. Considering that’s his best trait, you want to see better than that.

Sports Illustrated called him the “future of the NBA”, and a future No. 1 pick.

He was anything but.

Emoni Bates could be a headache for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Now, depending on who you want to believe, Bates maybe someone with some serious issues when it comes to being part of a team. There is a rumor out there that Bates didn’t transfer to Eastern Michigan, so much as head coach and NBA legend Penny Hardaway, kicked Bates off the team and Bates was forced to find a new home.

That’s not all, however, as Bates was soon after arrested for some serious charges. Charges that have made people like Ja Morant a little less reliable. On Sep. 18, 2022, Bates was arrested in Superior Township, Mich on felony charges of carrying a concealed weapon, as well as altering the identifications of the firearm. He got a plea deal, and the felony charges were dropped.

So he has a history of arguing with coaches, he’s toxic in a locker room, he’s not reliable off the court, he’s not very athletic (similar measurables to Tom Brady), and he’s an inefficient scorer.

Great.

He might be good, but he’s going to need to do a lot of growing up, and putting basketball first if he’s going to get himself to where he needs to be.

• Published on 06/23/2023 at 17:14 PM
• Last updated at 06/23/2023 at 17:15 PM