With the 49th overall pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Emoni Bates from Eastern Michigan. After Thursday’s draft, the former high school basketball phenom will be heading to Cleveland. Undoubtedly one of the toughest shot-makers in the entire draft, Bates’ ceiling is up with the lottery picks.
During his time in Ypsilanti, Emoni Bates showcased his ability to make tough jump shots from any range. Step-back threes, contested pull-ups, catch-and-shoot threes—you name it, and Bates was hitting them. His incredible scoring ability was evident when he scored 29 consecutive points at the Division One level.
At just 19 years old, Bates still has some room for improvement to become a complete NBA player. He stands at a good height of around 6’9″, but he possesses a wiry frame and lacks athleticism. These physical limitations are evident in his finishing around the rim, where he struggles to elevate above and through defenders. Defensively, he needs to add more strength to find his ideal defensive position and isn’t quite quick enough to stay in front of NBA guards.
Emoni Bates’ crazy potential upside
At the 49th overall pick, it’s rare to find someone with as much upside as Bates. The organization and fanbase will need to exercise patience and allow him to develop. With some time in the G-League to establish his role within an offense, Bates has the potential to become a dynamic scoring threat off the bench. Due to his unique abilities, his career trajectory is quite unpredictable, and the sky is truly the limit for him. Here are four player comparisons for Emoni Bates, ranging from low-end to pipe dream.
Low-End: Brandon Boston Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
When you watch Brandon Boston Jr., it’s not hard to see why many scouts compare him to Emoni Bates. Boston stands at 6’7″ and possesses excellent shot-making ability. He has displayed flashes of his elite scoring potential, such as his career-high 27 points against the Boston Celtics during his rookie season. Both Boston and Bates are explosive scorers who excel at shooting from beyond the arc. When these players enter their scoring zone, defenses struggle to contain them.
Drafted 51st overall, the Clippers have chosen to take a patient approach with Boston, prioritizing his development given his young age of 21 after two seasons. It’s likely that the Cavaliers will adopt a similar strategy when nurturing the talents of Emoni Bates, as they have time on their side with him.
Both Boston and Bates possess exceptional ball-handling skills and can convert a wide range of jump shots on the court. While Boston’s extended wingspan allows for better finishing at the rim, both players have defensive question marks. With a limited playing time of fewer than 15 minutes per game and averaging around six points per game in his first two seasons, such a stat line is highly probable for Emoni Bates as he enters the league.
Realistic: Smaller Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
The biggest similarity between Michael Porter Jr. and Emoni Bates is their unwavering confidence every time they possess the ball. Consequently, both players convert incredibly difficult baskets that make coaches across the country cringe. Throughout the playoff run, Porter Jr. showcased his ability to hit remarkably tough shots, often rising above his defenders whenever he had the ball.
Defensively, Porter Jr. doesn’t stand out despite his impressive size. During the Finals, his shooting slump made him less effective on the court due to his defensive shortcomings. Bates, lacking the same size as Porter Jr., will face an even greater challenge to make an impact during his own cold streaks.
If Bates can enhance his strength and refine his shot selection, I believe he has the potential to fit into a contender’s rotation in a manner similar to Michael Porter Jr.’s role with the Denver Nuggets this year. The undeniable impressiveness of their shot-making abilities and the presence they bring to the game can relieve pressure from the team’s stars.
Considering Bates was selected significantly lower than Porter Jr. if he can reach the level of performance Porter Jr. displayed last year, this pick will be a resounding success for Koby Altman and the Cavs.
Realistic: Prime J.R. Smith with Cavs’ J.R. Smith’s Athleticism
When I think of players who take incredibly difficult stepback contested threes that seem impossible to make, none other than J.R. Smith comes to mind. Throughout his career, Smith was known for his electrifying jump shooting, maintaining a career shooting percentage of 37% on approximately five attempts per game. Particularly during his time with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, Smith did significant damage in the mid-range area. He and Bates share similarities in their pull-up jumper game, which was a hallmark of Smith’s 16-year career.
Although Bates may not possess the same level of athleticism that prime J.R. Smith had to finish over and through defenders at the rim, their remarkable shot-making abilities are reminiscent of each other. Unfortunately, they also share a similarity in ball-handling consistency and decision-making, which sometimes leads to turnovers. Bates had significant ball-handling responsibilities at Eastern Michigan, and perhaps redefining his role within the offense could help limit turnovers and enhance his overall game feel.
At his peak, J.R. Smith was an 18-PPG scorer and won the Sixth Man of the Year award, which would be exceptional value for the 49th pick. Despite the flaws in Smith’s game, he found ways to contribute to multiple teams and even became a champion. Bates possesses a similar playstyle to J.R. Smith, which gives me confidence that he can find ways to make an impact in the NBA.
Super High-End: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
It wouldn’t be an Emoni Bates player comparison article without mentioning Kevin Durant. Ever since his high school days, Bates has drawn comparisons to KD due to their remarkably similar playstyles. Bates’ ability to pull up and execute stepback jumpers bears a striking resemblance to Durant’s game, including the shooting form itself.
This comparison made perfect sense during Bates’ impressive performances in college and throughout his high school career, where he exhibited the capacity to dominate games completely. However, Bates will never possess the extraordinary size and wingspan of Durant, which is a crucial factor in Durant’s exceptional efficiency.
While Durant is not widely recognized as an elite defender in the NBA, it is unlikely that Bates will ever have as significant an impact on the defensive end as Durant. Bates’ lack of length and off-ball instincts prevent him from approaching Durant’s prowess as a shot-blocker. Despite Durant being older and having a history of injuries, he still displays superior lateral movement against guards compared to Bates.
The expectation of Emoni Bates becoming the next Kevin Durant is highly unlikely and should not be placed on him. However, Bates possesses an exceptional shot-making ability that is already suited for the NBA. At just 19 years old, with some further development and understanding of his role within an NBA team, there is optimism that Bates can become a valuable contributor for the Cavs in the near future.