76ers Sign Emoni Bates To Exhibit 10 Contract

Bates was at one point considered the best high school prospect in the country. He drew comparisons to NBA superstars, most notably Kevin Durant. His incredible shot-making ability and slender frame earned him the high praise, so what happened?

Bates attended Memphis and Eastern Michigan in his college career, where he struggled mightily. He dealt with injuries throughout his two years in college, which didn’t help his draft stock. His shot-making ability disappeared, but his shot-taking tendencies remained.

Bates took every shot available in college; the ball just wasn’t going in the basket like it once was. The 6’10 forward shot 40% from the field on 13 attempts per game. Despite showing improvement in his sophomore season, he couldn’t help his draft stock enough to be a first-round pick. He was drafted with the 49th overall pick by the Cavaliers.

76ers Impact

Bates will likely need a strong preseason to even be in consideration to make Philadelphia’s roster. His NBA struggles seem permanent, making him unlikely to stick with a team at this point. The 21-year-old will continue to get opportunities similar to this due to his age and previously shown potential.

Bates is at a point where his name holds more value than his playing ability. Everyone will remember the kid they watched in high school and have an interest in. The 76ers giving him this opportunity should not be surprising, as the lack of PF depth on the roster is concerning. If he can show some promise, Philadelphia might be the best place for him to stick with a team.

End Of My Philadelphia 76ers Rant

The 76ers are in an interesting spot entering next season. They have a ton of talent, including Joel Embiid, but lack any sort of health stability. The team does not have a reliable PF, which may make Bates’ path to the roster a little easier, but he still has a ton of obstacles to climb.