After getting beaten by the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers headed into the offseason with many questions surrounding the franchise’s immediate future, namely whether they’d be able to sign superstar guard Donovan Mitchell to a lucrative long-term contract extension.
Fortunately for Cleveland, things have gone their way this summer. Mitchell agreed to a new deal, and the Cavaliers did not need to make trades like had been rumored, with Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen thought to potentially be on the move.
Along with everything seemingly heading in the right direction, the team parted ways with head coach JB Bickerstaff and brought in a perceived upgrade in Kenny Atkinson, formerly of the Golden State Warriors.
In the 2023 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers brought in Emoni Bates with their second-round draft pick, which seems to already be paying off, as he’s been putting on a show during the NBA Summer League thus far via the NBA’s Twitter account.
2023 2nd Rounder Emoni Bates impresses in the @cavs win at #NBA2KSummerLeague 🔥
18 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST pic.twitter.com/TOC9HXPdqa
— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2024
With the Cavaliers in win-now mode, the team is looking for players who can contribute immediately in order to be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, and Bates might become a player who can at least be an option if injuries take a toll on the frontcourt in Cleveland.
