Rule change means Cooper, Mays could see more time with the Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks could use a new league rule to bring Sharife Cooper and Skylar Mays up indefinitely. Atlanta got their first true taste of the ever-growing number COVID outbreaks, not just in the NBA, but in the NFL as well. Sure, Nate McMillan and his son, assistant coach Jemelle McMillan, missed a game after the latter’s positive test.

But no players or games had been missed due to the virus up to this point despite past opponents continuing to file in and out of health and safety protocols.

That all changed on Sunday when Adrian Wojnarowski reported Trae Young, among a slew of other notable NBA players, would be entering protocols. Shortly thereafter, Woj announced that the matchup with Cleveland was postponed as the Cavs dealt with an outbreak.

Young Atlanta Hawks Sharife Cooper and Skylar Mays could stand to benefit from the new league rules

In an effort to avoid more postponements and cancellations, the NBA has done away with the limit on the amount of games players on two-way contracts can play with their big squad. Previously, that number was set at 50 games. Now, per an ESPN report from Tim Bontemps, those players will be paid an “amended salary” if they exceed that amount.

This means we could see both Cooper and Mays with the Hawks far more than expected this season. Injuries have allowed both to get called up. Both have appeared in seven games this year, mostly in garbage time.

The duo, along with rookie forward Jalen Johnson, was transferred back to the Hawks on Monday.

Cooper has yet to crack four minutes in a game while Mays’ high is just over five minutes, which came in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Perhaps that changes with the new rules and Young possibly out through Christmas.

A rookie second-round pick, Cooper is averaging 19.9 points on 45.3 percent shooting overall and 37.7 percent from three-point land with 5.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals for the College Park Skyhawks. Mays has averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.1 boards while shooting 42.9 percent overall.

We saw Mays for an extended stretch as the Hawks dealt with injuries last season. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.2 boards on 50 percent shooting and went 12-of-29 from downtown in games that he played at least 10 minutes.

Cooper has only managed to score two points in a game, which he did twice, in his limited exposure.

While they would likely still be far down in the rotation, we are nearing a point where some are clamoring for the Hawks youth to be a part of the team to inject some energy into what has oftentimes this season been a lethargic group, particularly on defense. The further the Hawks fall in the standings, the louder those calls will grow.

The new rules will also allow teams to sign a player, who will not count against the cap or luxury tax, for every player they lose to COVID. They will also have to sign a player once they lose two to COVID as the league is trying anything to stave off further postponements or cancellations.