The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to bounce back after a disappointing playoff exit last season.
They had the best record in the Eastern Conference and were the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs.
Led by a core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and rising star Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers’ chances of coming out of the East looked strong.
However, they stumbled in the second round to the Indiana Pacers, losing the series in five games.
This season, the Cavaliers are once again positioned to be a top team, with the expectation of reaching the NBA Finals.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty ImagesStacey King thinks Emoni Bates can be a difference maker
The Cavaliers had one of the deepest rosters in the league last season and as a result Emoni Bates wasn’t given an opportunity to showcase his talents.
He didn’t see much of the floor, spending the majority of his time in the G League. The Cavaliers then declined the qualifying offer for Bates this past summer, making him a free agent.
Former NBA player and Chicago Bulls’ broadcaster Stacey King recognizes that Bates is too good not to be given a chance to thrive.
He spoke about the 21-year-old on his Stacey King’s Gimme The Hot Sauce Podcast.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
“America remember I told you this. When this kid finally gets an opportunity, he’s going to explode.
“This kid can play. He can shoot it. He can do all what you need him to do.
“I don’t know what it is, because I’m not around him every day, so I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and what his personality is like. Just judging the eye test as a basketball player, and he’s young too.
“21 years old, 6’9 wing player, the prototypical player that you want in this league, that you’re drafting guys toward, like you’re drafting these young kids at 18, 19 because you want that kind of player.
“Here’s a kid, 21 years old, with a couple years NBA experience, can’t get into the rotation in Cleveland for whatever reason. Because, you had a core, they got a veteran laden team.
“If I’m a coach and I see a kid with this type of talent… I’m gonna find some minutes somewhere to put this kid in, because he could be the difference for you.”
Emoni Bates is looking for his next opportunity
Bates is still a free agent with the 2025-26 NBA season about to begin.
Although he didn’t play much for the Cavaliers, he did put up some nice numbers for their G League affiliate the Cleveland Charge.
He averaged 18.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20 games played for them this past season.
Given his young age and versatile skillset, it’s only a matter of time until a team takes a chance on Bates.