Mavericks are sitting on a no-brainer signing right at home

The Dallas Mavericks have had major success in the two-way contract department over the last few seasons, with Brandon Williams being converted from a two-way to a standard contract last season, and rookie Ryan Nembhard being primed to draw the same fate this year. Dallas hasn't made the space for this to happen quite yet, but when they do, they should think about signing Emoni Bates to the vacant two-way slot Nembhard will be leaving behind.

Bates recently joined Dallas' G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, ahead of this past weekend, as he was shipped to Frisco from the Delaware Blue Coats in exchange for Charles Bassey. Bates played in the Legends' back-to-back over the weekend versus the Austin Spurs, and while he only shot 8-21 for 22 points total between the two contests, he still has solid NBA potential being a 6-foot-8 ball-handling wing that is only 21 years old.

After being somewhat of a prodigy in middle school and a five-star recruit in high school, Bates had a rough start to his collegiate career after having to play point guard halfway through his freshman season for the Memphis Tigers. Ahead of the start of his sophomore season at Eastern Michigan, he was arrested on gun charges shortly before the season started.

Why Emoni Bates makes sense as the Mavericks' next two-way player

While the charges were dropped shortly thereafter and he was selected No. 49 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's clear Bates' college career and entrance to the NBA didn't mirror the expectations many had for him after seeing him go viral online at such a young age. However, he's still very young and has great size and skill, even if he needs to become more efficient offensively and fill out his frame to be a stronger defender.

To that point, though, Bates definitely looked like he put on some muscle compared to when he first came into the league, when observing him over the weekend with the Legends. His shooting mechanics bode well for his efficiency improving, and he has a solid handle for a wing his size. These are both undeniable characteristics that would make it intriguing for Dallas to consider signing him to a two-way contract later this season.

If Bates can improve his shot selection and decision-making, he could definitely blossom into a special player in this league. But he's also the type of player who has a very low floor, despite having a high ceiling, as things can look rough for him when he's in a rut from a scoring perspective. For him to really earn a two-way in Dallas, he needs to focus on doing the little things in combination with his finishing and shooting, as this will help him carve out an actual potential role one day.

After being on a two-way with the Cavaliers the last two seasons, this would be Bates' last season that he's eligible for a two-way deal, so Dallas should definitely pounce on the opportunity to sign him on a two-way contract for the rest of the season should they convert Nembhard to a standard deal at any point this season.