The Dallas Mavericks have quietly built a strong track record when it comes to maximizing value from two-way contracts. Last season, Brandon Williams made the leap from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract.
This year, rookie Ryan Nembhard looks poised to follow that same path. While the Mavs haven’t yet cleared a roster spot to make that official, the writing’s on the wall - and that opens the door for an intriguing possibility: Emoni Bates.
Bates recently landed with the Texas Legends, Dallas’ G League affiliate, after being acquired from the Delaware Blue Coats in a trade for Charles Bassey. He suited up over the weekend in a back-to-back against the Austin Spurs, and while the box score wasn’t eye-popping - 8-for-21 shooting for 22 points across both games - the upside is still very real. Bates is a 6-foot-8 wing with ball-handling chops and shot-making potential, and at just 21 years old, he’s still got time to grow into the kind of player many thought he’d become when he first burst onto the national radar.
Let’s rewind for a second. Bates was once considered a generational talent - a viral sensation in middle school, a five-star recruit in high school, and a name that carried serious weight among scouts and fans alike.
But his college career didn’t unfold like the highlight reels suggested. At Memphis, he was pressed into playing point guard midway through his freshman season - not an ideal fit - and then transferred to Eastern Michigan.
Just before his sophomore year tipped off, he was arrested on gun charges, though those charges were later dropped. Still, it was a rocky stretch that derailed some of the momentum he had built early in his career.
Despite the setbacks, Bates was still taken 49th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s spent the last two seasons on two-way contracts with Cleveland, showing flashes of the talent that once made him a household name among hoop heads. Now, in what will be his final year of two-way eligibility, he’s looking to prove he belongs - and Dallas might be the perfect place for that next chapter.
Here’s why the fit makes sense.
First, Bates has the physical tools. His size and length on the wing are exactly what teams covet in today’s NBA.
He’s added noticeable muscle since entering the league, which should help him become more effective on both ends of the floor. He’s not a finished product defensively, but with more strength and better positioning, there’s room for growth.
Second, the skill set is there. Bates has a smooth shooting stroke, and while the efficiency hasn’t been consistent yet, the mechanics are solid.
He also has a good handle for a player his size, which gives him some shot-creation potential - a trait that’s hard to teach and even harder to find in two-way players. If he can clean up his shot selection and make quicker reads, there’s a real chance he could evolve into a rotation-caliber scorer.
But it’s not just about the scoring.
For Bates to earn a two-way deal in Dallas - and potentially stick beyond that - he’ll need to embrace the little things: rebounding, defensive effort, off-ball movement, and making the right play even when he’s not the focal point. That’s the difference between being a highlight-reel guy and being a contributor on a playoff team. The Mavericks are looking for players who can complement their stars, not just chase their own shots.
This is a critical window for Bates. With Nembhard likely on his way to a standard contract, the Mavericks will have a two-way slot to fill.
Bates, given his age, upside, and skill set, is a logical candidate. But time is of the essence - this is his final season of two-way eligibility, meaning Dallas would have to act soon if they want to take a flyer on him.
The Mavericks have shown they know how to find value in these types of deals. If they believe in Bates’ potential and think he can buy into their system, this could be a low-risk, high-reward move.
The talent is there. The question now is whether Bates can put the pieces together - and whether Dallas is the place where it finally clicks.