The Cleveland Cavaliers made a low-risk pick in the second round of the NBA Draft by drafting wing Emoni Bates with the 49th pick. Bates was once projected to be an NBA superstar, but challenges on and off the court in recent years tanked his draft stock.
Bates told reporter Damichael Cole that even though he’s a Cavalier, his relationship with Ja Morant is why he was interested in being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies.
“He checks in with me every here and there. That’s big bro. He always checks in with me. I’m pretty sure he’s going to text me when I get to the hotel. I try to talk to him as much as I can.”
Emoni Bates explains why he was interested in getting drafted by Memphis
“Ja. That’s like my big brother.”
(Via @DamichaelC ) pic.twitter.com/lJsCaOIla5
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 11, 2023
Bates did go to college in Memphis, so there was a natural familiarity with the area. Morant must have taken an interest in the young star over the last few years, which explains why Bates would be as close to him.
Both players have also had concerning gun incidents over their young lives, so maybe being together would help them keep themselves away from those distractions.
The Cavaliers Hoping Their Holes At The Wing Are Filled
The pick for Bates shows the team hopes to find an internal solution to their struggles at the wing. They have a solid four-man lineup with two guards (Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell) and two bigs (Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley). But who is their wing? Isaac Okoro hasn’t shown the development the Cavs have hoped for, and Carise LeVert is not a good enough option.
They have added Max Strus to hopefully be their new starting small forward, with the likes of Okoro and LeVert still on the roster. They could make trades to further improve their roster, but it may not be feasible given their lack of future assets. If Emoni Bates can realize his potential, he would make this Cavs team a dangerous squad in a few years.
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