Should The Brooklyn Nets Take A Chance On Emoni Bates?

The 2023 NBA Draft Combine ended on Sunday and as with any other event in sports, participants improved their stock, lowered it, or stayed the same in the eyes of onlookers. The combine showed every team, including the Brooklyn Nets, either things that they already knew about the players or new things that could change their opinions of the players in question.

One player that is trying to improve his NBA prospects is Eastern Michigan forward Emoni Bates. Bates, 19, is currently mocked to go undrafted according to Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft. That in of itself is shocking is considering that Bates was regarded as a generational talent just a few years ago when he was in high school.

Some off-the-court issues and an underwhelming college career later, Bates is trying to at least get drafted into the league. Per Alex Schiffer of The Athletic, Bates will work out for the Nets leading up to the draft. Bates is either going to go undrafted or be a late second-round pick, possibly to the Nets with their 51st overall pick.

Bates could be the player that Brooklyn is looking for regardless of franchise direction because of his ability to score the basketball. However, his athletic profile (6’8″, 179 LBS) is less-than-ideal and it remains to be seen if he will ever be able to contribute on the defensive end of the floor. Bates’ talent is evident and Brooklyn could take a flier on him given how most second-round picks are usually upside plays to begin with.