Sharife Cooper, last season’s second-round draft pick for the Atlanta Hawks has been waived again. This time the Cleveland Cavaliers, who signed him after the Hawks requested waivers on his two-way deal earlier in the offseason waived the guard.
This would have to be incredibly frustrating for Cooper who has a reputation as being one of the hardest workers in the NBA. He went from having a deal with the Hawks at the start of the summer to being out of the league just days before the season begins.
It is highly unlikely that any NBA team will look at Cooper now, he has not demonstrated his abilities at the highest level as yet. So, the question remains, what are the options that remain open to the Auburn product? Seeing as Georgia is his home state, one of the options is that he could come home and play for the College Park Skyhawks.
What are the other options open to ex-Atlanta Hawks guard Sharife Cooper?
Cooper has the potential to play overseas like so many other players before him. He could head over to Europe but his best option is to go to Australia where the NBL is currently running. The thing is that the NBL has produced some quality NBA players and if he can dominate there then NBA teams will sit up and take note. This is the benefit of playing in a league that is running concurrently with the NBA.
The problem for Cooper is that he was released so late in the pre-season that the NBL have their rosters set. However, as Terrance Ferguson used to say, it is a tough league where grown men target imports which toughens a player up. It is not that Cooper needs toughening, he needs to perform. Getting a contract there could be gold for the sophomore.
If he does not choose this path, then returning to the G League is most likely for Cooper. The only question that remains is where he will end up. Given how much I personally enjoy watching Cooper, I am hoping he returns home and the Skyhawks benefit from his growth and development.