Emoni Bates Could be Worth the Late Risk For Oklahoma City

It’s public knowledge that Emoni Bates has a workout scheduled with Oklahoma City, who has fallen out of the first round conversation entirely. Once thought as a shoe-in Top 3 selection, Bates’ rocky college career dropped him down draft boards.

His potential is still extremely high, though, and he could develop with patience in a place like Oklahoma City. Surrounded by guys that have been in the Thunder system and are all about basketball would be great for Bates’ career at the next level.

The knock on Bates has been poor efficiency and subpar combine numbers. It wasn’t smooth sailing for the five-star in college as things just didn’t work out at his first stop. At Memphis, Bates started 13-of-18 games and averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He transferred to Eastern Michigan directly after the season and had success as the No. 1 scoring option.

With the Eagles, Bates still struggled efficiency-wise, but showcased his high ceiling and why his skill set is so rare — especially at his size. He averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, shooting 40.5% from the floor and 33% from 3-point range.

His performance in a narrow regular season loss to Toledo shows why scouts were so high on him in the first place. He was genuinely unstoppable. Bates scored an unheard of 29 straight points to close the first half, accounting for 82.8% of Eastern Michigan’s points in the frame. He finished the game with 43 points and nine triples made, which is what the basketball community envisioned when he was dominating in the high school ranks.

Emoni Bates has 29 points at the half vs Toledo

(10-14 FG, 7-9 3FG, 2-2 FT) 🔥

EMU down 35-36 pic.twitter.com/izjJ3kt0V8
— Keandre Ashley (@HoopIntelllect) January 25, 2023

Standing 6-foot-8 with a pure offensive game and a knockdown jump-shot, Bates drew comparisons from all of the NBA’s top wings growing up. When the Thunder started collecting draft picks the day Paul George was traded, Bates was supposed to be the player every team would gun for when the time came.

With willing passers like Josh Giddey and an attention-drawing superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bates would have the most open looks he's gotten in his life. He's always been the center of attention on the court, but could be a serious floor-spacer for a team like the Thunder.

Oklahoma City has an influx of guards and a special post project in Chet Holmgren. The team also has potential creators in guys like Aleksej Pokusevski and Ousmane Dieng. The Thunder could really use a shot-making wing, even if it doesn’t end up being Bates. But if he’s on the board in the second round, it makes sense to try and give him the tools he needs to be successful. He was viewed as the next big thing not long ago, and his flashes shown in college were enough. You simply don’t find skill sets like that as a round two bargain.

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