Cavaliers forward Emoni Bates will have a little pause at the start of his second NBA season. That’s because Bates underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday to treat a torn meniscus in his right knee, the team said.
He will be re-evaluated in a month, shortly after the Cavs’ season has started, but before the Cleveland Charge are scheduled to tip off. That second part matters since Bates is on a two-way contract and expected to again spend plenty of time in the G League.
Meanwhile, the Cavs open the preseason on Tuesday, when they host the Bulls.
Bates is still only 20 years old. He was dominant in the G League as a rookie, averaging 21.6 points and 5.7 rebounds, and shooting about 35 percent on 3-pointers. He appeared in 15 games with the Cavaliers.
He also offered a fine showing at the Last Vegas Summer League in July. But the Cavs want to see Bates become more than just a jump shooter.
For starters, he hasn’t shot the ball well enough to be just a shooter. He hasn’t done enough of the other things. He has great length at 6-foot-9 and is a good natural athlete. He just needs to be able to utilize it at the NBA level.
Bates showed last year he was on the cusp. But there didn’t seem to be a big difference between Bates the G League player and Bates at summer league in July.
The Cavs selected Bates with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Coming out of high school, many had him pegged as a future top-three pick, as Bates drew comparisons to Kevin Durant. Then he ran into some legal issues, transferred from Memphis to Eastern Michigan, and his stock slipped.
For the Cavaliers, he was always worth the so-called risk (though at No. 49, there’s no risk at all). A lot of people have high hopes for Bates. Not just fans, but the entire organization.
The Cavs could use more perimeter shooting from the wing spots. That could be a role for Bates. But he’s not there yet. He needs to become more consistent from the outside and do some dirty work.
I’ve talked to Bates. He’s a good guy who loves the game. He truly loves to play and has a true allegiance to the Cavs for drafting him. He has said he wants to reward the organization for taking a chance. He may yet do that, but for now, he’ll stick to rest and recovery.
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