The Philadelphia 76ers have signed wing Emoni Bates to a deal before the start of NBA training camp, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape. The 21-year-old now has a chance to impress and potentially make the roster.
The Sixers lost young guard Jared McCain to a thumb injury, which will leave him out for four-to-six weeks. He had a promising rookie year last season, though his season was cut short due to a meniscus tear.
Philadelphia is facing a season full of heightened expectations for the entire organization, as the team has spent big money on the team, yet they finished well below .500 last season.
The front office will be hoping Bates, a former second-round pick back in 2023, can potentially step in and provide depth on the wing.
Bates was a high school star, catching the eye of many NBA scouts who were interested in the high-scoring prospect. He went to Memphis and teamed up with Jalen Duren, but Bates averaged just 9.7 points per game on 38.6 percent shooting from the field.
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His underwhelming freshman year led to a transfer, as he committed to Eastern Michigan. However, he ended up getting arrested on suspicion of gun charges, delaying his start at the new school.
Once he returned to the team following his suspension, he averaged 19.2 points per game and showcased more of the potential he had shown in high school.
Bates’ NBA Tenure So Far
The Cleveland Cavaliers took him with the No. 49 selection following his sophomore season in college, though he did not manage to crack the rotation.
He played 25 games, averaging 8.3 minutes per outing. He scored 3.1 points, got 0.8 rebounds, and added 0.7 assists, serving as an end-of-the-bench player.
His G League numbers were much more promising. He put up 19.1 points on 38.2 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from deep.
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Bates is a high-usage player who can create his own shot and shoots with an endless green light. At 6-foot-9, there is plenty of promise considering his blend of ball-handling, shooting, and physical profile, but he has not managed to piece his game together.
The Sixers will give him the chance to work on his game and potentially showcase enough to merit a spot on the roster or in the G League.