Cavs Mailbag: Why Dean Wade Over Emoni Bates?
For the first time in 12 days, the Cavs are going to play a game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Even better news, seven of their next eight contests will be at home.
The Detroit Pistons are in town Friday for NBA In-Season Tournament group play, but it will likely be a shorthanded meeting for both teams, who are extremely banged up less than a month into the year.
Before the action tips off tonight, let’s get to your questions.
When will JB give Emoni a chance? He is playing 26-year-old Dean Wade for 33 minutes and he isn’t getting any better. Why can’t Emoni play 8-12 minutes? Why are we using a 7-man rotation this early into the season? There’s going to be injuries if we use a playoff rotation all year. - @jumpmanhu72
As we sit here in mid-November, I’m of the belief that Emoni Bates will only see significant NBA action when the Cavs are backed into a corner in the guard/forward room. There is a reason they signed him to a two-way contract after drafting him in the second round.
They want to develop him gradually with consistent minutes and a consistent role with the Cleveland Charge in the G League. Yanking him back and forth between there and the big club would not help accomplish that goal. When Bates is up with the Cavs for good, he will be a part of the rotation because they’ll feel he’s ready for the task. Right now, that may not be the case — even though he will be around the team and its environment. We do have to remember he’s only 19 years old. He still has to develop and grow into his body yet too.
What’s terrific is Bates is focused on winning regardless of which team he suits up for. He’s going to thrive with guys that he spent a lot of training camp with and some who were teammates with him on the Cavs’ championship run at NBA Summer League. He’s got a great relationship with Charge head coach Mike Gerrity, who led that team in Las Vegas as well.
There are just too many players in the way for Bates to get regular NBA minutes this early in the season. Between that guard/forward room, you have Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro and Ty Jerome. Sam Merrill is also a reserve. Georges Niang and Dean Wade (getting to him next) have spent time at the 3 here and there too. It’s just a numbers game, and remember, the Cavs have a maximum of 50 games they can play Bates because of that specific contract.
I will level with you that Wade has not played up to par this season. He has been depended on way too much for the lack of production he's provided to this point. If he’s getting 10-15 minutes of action between the 3 and the 4, that’s fine. But anything more than that is pushing it if he can’t knock down catch-shoot threes (or simply won’t take them).
Wade is not staying stout on closeouts or moving his feet well on the defensive end — at least consistently — right now, although he has only committed two fouls the last couple of games. Bickerstaff’s explanation would be that the Cavs value his versatility to guard multiple positions and stretch the floor, as well as rebounding the basketball. While having the ability to do it is great, doing it well is another thing.
Wade will not be playing as much as we saw in Portland. Don’t forget that Okoro has been out for two weeks and Cleveland hasn’t been healthy in general. That’s a big part of this with not just Wade, but the whole rotation. Regularly, it would be a nine-man operation at the minimum.
Nov 15, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives to the basket during the first half against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) at Moda Center.
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Can they keep Darius and Donovan? - @NaturalPlayerD
My guy Kelvin! Thanks for the question.
I will answer this question in terms of contract feasibility and not from a “do they work together” perspective since I addressed that part of it a couple days ago. Yes, the Cavs can have Mitchell and Garland at the same time on the books.
Garland’s five-year rookie-maximum extension just kicked in starting this year, while Mitchell’s current rookie-max contract (signed in Utah) runs through the end of next season with a player option for 2025-26.
Mitchell has stated that, though a contract extension opportunity passed this fall, he has the chance to sign one next fall. That doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to either.
But contract-wise, yes, the Cavs can keep Garland and Mitchell together even with Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Do you see a scenario this season where Craig Porter Jr. is converted to a full deal and Jerome sees zero action? Ty being injured hasn't helped his own case but Craig is the better talent in my eyes. - @FuznFancy
While I do think Craig Porter Jr.’s path to the NBA and Cavs roster could be shorter than his fellow two-way teammates, that seems like a rather reactionary decision. Jerome hasn’t even had the opportunity to play yet or get into a rhythm. What could his size bring to the table at that position? Can we see him and LeVert developing a backcourt chemistry with the bench? Those are unanswered questions yet.
It also goes without mentioning Ricky Rubio is still a member of the roster despite being away from the team for personal reasons.
Looking at the first few weeks of the season, Porter has played predominantly when Garland has been out. He’s also only seen double-digit minutes twice, with both games being against the New York Knicks. It helps that he’s already done most of his development at the collegiate level in multiple stops, so it seems he’s pro-ready.
However, the 23-year-old Porter still has steps to take just like Bates and Isaiah Mobley, who’s in the second year of his two-way deal. This early-season trial by fire was not planned or expected, but the injuries have given the team no choice, so that’s thrown a wrench into things.
The positive part of this is how effective and unfazed Porter has looked in the minutes he’s gotten. That’s a good first impression.
