Will Emoni Bates follow the path of a Cavs great or bust?

Cavs Boom Pick: Ron Harper

Ron Harper was the No. 8 pick of the Cavaliers back in 1986. The team had also drafted Brad Daugherty at No. 1 that season. It was the beginning of an incredible period in Cleveland basketball history as the team made it to multiple playoff appearances that included an Eastern Conference appearance.

Harper was a huge part of this run for the Cavs. Like Bates, Harper came from a Mid-American Conference team Miami of Ohio. He was a four-year starter in college which is different than most stars in the NBA today.

Both Bates and Harper were oozing with talent when they entered the league. The Cavs are certainly banking on Bates taking that talent and making it stick now. Back in Harper’s day, he took his talents and immediately became a star. Plus, he was a good defender, and from the sounds of it, Bates still needs to learn how to do more of playing defense if he wants to last in the league.

Harper went on to play for other NBA teams after he was surprisingly traded in 1989. One of those teams included the Chicago Bulls, where he played for five NBA title teams.

All those that have been following the Bates story will probably say the same things about how he’s a shooter but that’s about it at this stage of his career. His shot percentage was just over 40 percent and 33 percent on three-pointer attempts. When you review Bates’ shooting patterns, you’ll find a kid that kept shooting despite struggles at times. In the last six games of his season with Eastern Michigan he went 11-for-48 for a terrible 22 percent.

Hopefully, Bates will ease his way into the league and not put too much pressure on himself as he adjusts to things. If he can do that, learn to play defense, and be more efficient with his shot, then just maybe 20 years from now we’ll all be talking of what a boom Bates was for the Wine and Gold.