Soaring Down South
Fansided

The Atlanta Hawks call up Sharife Cooper with Trae Young banged up

By Joshua Buckhalter

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Sharife Cooper #2 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on prior to the game against the Orlando Magic during the first half at Amway Center on December 15, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Sharife Cooper #2 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on prior to the game against the Orlando Magic during the first half at Amway Center on December 15, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Hawks (29-32) called up rookie point guard Sharife Cooper ahead of the team’s tilt with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. The game, which was rescheduled amid the Bulls COVID issues earlier in the year, comes just one week after Chicago welcomed Atlanta back from the All-Star break with a 112-108 loss.

The Hawks are 0-3 against the Bulls this season with just this game to go if they want to avoid the sweep.

Complicating matters are the absences of John Collins and Onyeka Okongwu.

But the biggest concern is the balky ankle of Trae Young. He sprained it in the Hawks loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday when he landed on Marcus Smart’s foot. Young still finished the game with 31 points to go with six assists.

Could we see more of Sharife Cooper with Trae Young hobbled?

Cooper’s time in the NBA has been limited to a little over three minutes per contest in 11 games and his production reflects that. He’s averaging just 0.6 points and 0.5 assists; numbers so small it is hard to put too much weight into his 21.4 percent mark from the floor and 16.7 percent from downtown.

His best game was a three-point, two-rebound performance in the Hawks 134-118 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers back on Jan 7.

His G-League numbers have been much more encouraging.

Cooper is up to 13.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.5 boards in over 28 minutes of action across 11 games with 10 starts. He went for 10 points, two assists, and two rebounds in Wednesday’s tilt between the College Park Skyhawks and Raptors 905.

He shot 57.1 percent from the floor and hit both of his threes in the Skyhawks 128-104 loss.

Related Story. Can the Hawks seal the deal against the Bulls this time?. light

Things weren’t all great for him in the five games before that. In four appearances (across six games) since the Skyhawks last win, Cooper is shooting 39.0 percent from the floor and hit just 7-of-30 triples. His shooting efficiency was a question coming out of college at Auburn and it still seems to be a bit of an issue.

He averaged 9.5 assists in those four appearances, which is exceptional. But he also turned the ball over 5.7 times per game which would lead the NBA by a full turnover.

This is likely just an insurance policy in the event that Young – who is a game-time decision versus Chicago – can’t go or further aggravates the injury. If we want to see Cooper more next season he will have to clean up the turnovers even more so than his efficiency.

Trae Young missing time vs BOS showed the Hawks real problem. dark. Next

With Nate McMillan being averse to handing out minutes that is the only way the Georgia native will be able to crack this rotation in the future.

Home/Hawks News