Emoni Bates at #31?

[Uncle Mxy]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2023/05/21/emoni-bates-nba-draft-2023-pistons-jalen-duren/70238462007/

After tumultuous seasons at Memphis and then Eastern Michigan, Bates declared for the draft in April — bringing him a step closer to a dream that once seemed a formality. He spent the combine scrimmaging, meeting with NBA teams and addressing questions about his game, personality and commitment. Over the next month, he’ll interview and work out with teams with the goal of proving there’s more to him than what we’ve recently seen.

Those teams include the Detroit Pistons, where he would be able to reunite with 2022 lottery pick, former Memphis teammate and good friend Jalen Duren, and play in front of a home crowd. They own the 31st pick in the draft. It’s one of several motivators for him as he works to solidify his stock ahead of the draft June 22 in Brooklyn, New York.

Who knows... he could turn out to be the second coming of Mateen Cleaves. And no, I shouldn't have to use green text for anyone here to realize that's smack talk.

[dVs33]

How bad was he this year? I don’t watch college ball.
Wasn’t there a lot of hype about him early on? Could be worth a shot at 31

[Manocad]

How bad was he this year? I don’t watch college ball.
Wasn’t there a lot of hype about him early on? Could be worth a shot at 31

There was a lot of hype about him early on that he could be a potential #1 pick. But A) he's a knucklehead and B) he puts up decent numbers against garbage competition and disappears against good teams. But he is friends with Jalen Duren so maybe Jalen could be somewhat of a steadying force for him. However that only addresses the knucklehead issue. He's a 2nd rounder at best.

[Kalamazoo317]

From what I hear, he's a low IQ shot chucker. I'd rather have high IQ, high hustle, good culture guys at 31.

[Rip32]

I don't want Bates near this team especially Duren

[Mr Peanut]

I think if you removed two factors from the equation, him being a local product and also that he was highly touted coming out of high school, and focussed on the current factors of his poor measurements, suboptimal college play and off-court issues, he wouldn't even be in consideration to be selected anywhere in the draft, let alone an early 2nd round pick.

So there are many other players we should look at instead.

[whitehops]

They should stay away from him even as a UDFA.

He’s 6’8, 180 with a 6’9 wingspan that doesn’t have a good skill set and tested in the bottom quarter of every athletic test at the combine. His team had an 8-23 record in a weak conference.

There’s literally nothing he brings to the table other than being from Michigan.

[Goldbum]

If Detroit wants Bates in round 2 I think he could be had at #43. Would Keon Johnson+ Nas Little + #43 be enough for you to trade Isiah Stewart? I come in peace and I'm just not sure how you value him.

[Rip32]

I'm putting it out there; he won't get drafted AT ALL!!

[Mr Peanut]

If Detroit wants Bates in round 2 I think he could be had at #43. Would Keon Johnson+ Nas Little + #43 be enough for you to trade Isiah Stewart? I come in peace and I'm just not sure how you value him.

From an outsiders perspective, I think Keon Johnson and Nassir Little haven't quite lived up to expectations thus far so we'd basically be doing this trade for the 43rd pick which feels a bit light for Isaiah. The organization values him a lot as well and he likely gets extended this summer.

[Snakebites]

Maybe a good team with a strong culture might take a chance on him.

We’re not that team though.

[mattao313]

I'd take a chance deep in the second if we got another one. He's pretty much just a shooter but a chucker. He's best outcome is a nick young type of player imo.

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[vege]

If Detroit wants Bates in round 2 I think he could be had at #43. Would Keon Johnson+ Nas Little + #43 be enough for you to trade Isiah Stewart? I come in peace and I'm just not sure how you value him.

No

[Manocad]

I'm putting it out there; he won't get drafted AT ALL!!

You’ll get no argument from me. I don’t think he’s in any mock drafts.

[chrbal]

No. This article on why the Jazz shouldn’t is one I agree with.

https://www.si.com/nba/jazz/.amp/draft/scouting-report-utah-jazz-avoid-emoni-bates

Also. MSU alumni and former Lion, Charles Rogers is a warning to me. I think Emoni would do himself a great disservice staying in Michigan. He needs to grow and get away from any possible entourage type situation he has.

Also, I don’t honestly think he’ll be much more then a good g league bench player…possible euro league starter.

I wouldn’t take him higher than 50, even then I wouldn’t feel confident about him.

[JohnReese]

No way, not even undrafted. He is bad news.

[joeposh]

Yeah, this dude is a hard pass. There's a reason no elite college team went hard to pick him up off the transfer portal. He'll probably be shopping for an UFA SL spot and definitely isn't worth #31 (which has financial/trade advantages over a late 1st).

[SuperBad]

I’d give him a hometown chance in acquiring a later 2nd rd pick on him, or if he’s not drafted, I’d definitely give him a shot for summer league and camp. I bet he makes the league eventually, but I haven’t seen him play that much.

[dbuch238]

That gun charge is a big red flag for me. He needs to stay as far away from his Ypsilanti friends as possible. Anywhere but Detroit..

[Kalamazoo317]

The front office heard we need better shooting, so we're going to get Miller in the first and Bates in the second ... lock and load