Tamar

Bates

The former first-round pick will get a new deal after finishing last season in Houston. He’ll be a depth piece, though he’ll likely spend most of his time in the G League. They’ll waive Tamar Bates to clear the two-way spot.

After serving as a reserve during his two seasons at Indiana, Bates transferred to Missouri ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. A more prominent role awaited him in Columbia, and the 6-foot-5 wing took advantage. As a senior, Bates averaged 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 three-pointers per game, shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 94.6 percent from the foul line. Making 39.7 percent of his three-point attempts, the former Mizzou standout was nearly a 50/40/90 player. While Bates is not much of a playmaker for others, he has the potential to provide solid 3-and-D value as a pro. He’ll develop within Denver’s system as a two-way contract player.