Hornets' Larry Jordan is Reportedly a 'Big Emoni Bates Fan'

Could Charlotte select Bates in the 2023 NBA Draft?

Emoni Bates is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year's 2023 NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit didn't necessarily live up to the hype at Memphis and had a back issue that limited him to just 18 games as a freshman. 

He then hopped in the portal where he would transfer closer to his home of Ypsilanti, Michigan to play for Eastern Michigan - a school not well known for basketball. Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Bates was arrested on gun charges but saw those charges drop not long after.

There is certainly some off-the-court concern with Bates but in terms of his talent, it's NBA-level. If he didn't have the injury, didn't transfer to Eastern Michigan, and didn't get arrested, he would be a surefire first-round pick. But with all of the question marks, some believe he may not only fall out of the first round but may not be selected until the back half of the second round.

According to Adam Zagoria of Forbes, the Charlotte Hornets are one team to watch in the draft when it comes to Bates.

"Larry Jordan, Michael’s brother and the Vice President of personnel with Charlotte, is a big Bates fan and was in attendance when he scored 35 points this season in an overtime loss to Ball State in February."

The Hornets own the 2nd, 27th, 34th, 39th, and 41st picks in the draft, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Charlotte to snatch him up. Regardless of what Charlotte does at No. 2, I believe Bates would still be in play for them at 27 or in the second round. He's an off-ball guard that can also play the wing.

In 30 games at EMU, Bates averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 40% from the field and 33% from three-point range.

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