Report: Cavaliers Believe Emoni Bates Is ‘Best Suited’ To Stay In G League Next Season

According to NBA reporter Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cleveland Cavaliers are “still committed” to Emoni Bates‘ development.

Bates will spend the majority of next season with the Cleveland Charge. 

“All the indications that I have gotten are that this organization still is committed to Emoni Bates and his development and that’s why they made that qualifying offer to him, that two-way qualifying offer,” Fedor said on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast. “But he’s going to spend a majority of his second season in the NBA with the Cleveland Charge and that’s where this organization believes he is best suited and that’s where this organization believes that he belongs at this point in his development.”

The Cavaliers drafted Bates with the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Bates appeared in 15 NBA games this past season. He averaged 2.7 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.1 steals and 0.1 blocks while shooting 30.6% from the field, 30.3% from beyond the arc and 25.0% from the free-throw line. 

Bates averaged 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Charge in 2023-24 while shooting 38.7% overall, 34.6% from 3 and 90.3% from the free-throw line in 17 games. 

In four Summer League games this summer in Las Vegas, Bates averaged 16.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.3 steals while shooting 36.2% from the field, 28.6% from beyond the arc and a perfect 100.0% from the free-throw line. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. J.B. Bickerstaff was fired as head coach and replaced by Kenny Atkinson, who signed a five-year deal with Cleveland. 

The Cavaliers haven’t made any trades this offseason. They also haven’t signed anyone in free agency. 

Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen signed lucrative extensions with Cleveland this offseason. According to NBA reporter Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, Atkinson sold the Cavaliers on ideas to squeeze more out of the current roster.