Should the Atlanta Hawks shut down Sharife Cooper for Summer League?
The Atlanta Hawks had another struggle in Summer League, this time at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans. They went down 73-101 with only Justin Tillman and Chaundee Brown Jr. putting up much resistance. Tillman has come off the bench for two games in a row and provided a spark for the Hawks.
However, the Hawks are being hamstrung by injuries to three of their main players who would have been dominant in this Summer League. Jalen Johnson would have been in the squad except for his non-surgical procedure just after the postseason was in the books. As a result, Johnson was not even named to the squad.
AJ Griffin has also not played a game in this edition of Summer League as he has been held out with a foot injury. This has led to Sharife Cooper being left to carry most of the load and he has been struggling to do so, thanks to injury issues of his own.
The Atlanta Hawks may look to shut down Sharife Cooper.
It would be a good move, considering how Cooper is being impacted by his thumb injury, to shut him down. He is unable to perform at the level that we know he is can do. He put up massive performances in the G League last season including an incredible 37-point triple-double.
At the moment Cooper’s stock is going so far down because he is hesitant to shoot the ball and does not have his normal control. Some people on Twitter are even suggesting that he should be gone from the Hawks this season. The fact he is injured and can’t participate fully in team practices does not seem to matter to them.
Next. Why AJ Griffin will get minutes where Johnson could not. dark
Cooper will be back to his normal self again when he is healed up. He is not really getting any meaningful game time at the moment due to the injuries to himself and others. Unless Griffin is back next game, there is almost no point playing Cooper either.