
2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Washington Wizards draft floor general Sharife Cooper
The Wizards secured their frontcourt presence with Usman Garuba, and now they’re taking a swing at a potential long-term point guard with Sharife Cooper.
The Wizards may have more “pressing needs” for perimeter defense, but with Ish Smith’s free agency, this team gets a potential upgrade as a floor general for the 2nd unit.
Cooper may be playing behind Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, but he can soak up a lot from the two All-Stars.
NBA Draft – Sharife Cooper NBA player comparisons
- Mike Conley feel for the point guard position, craftiness
- Rafer Alston
- Ish Smith
Sharife Cooper has a lot of analysts banging the drum for him being a top-10 prospect, and you’re going to see a lot of different takes of what he can and can’t be heading into the NBA Draft.
What we do know with Cooper is that he is a gifted passer. Just a really crafty guard whose passing is more than just the physical passes themselves. He has a great understanding of angles, timing, pace, and how to single-handily create offense for his teammates. It can look like a Chris Paul-level point guard operation.
Cooper will also get the buckets himself. A slithery ball-handler who uses that same great anticipation to figure out his driving lanes. He can wow you with his under-the-rim layup package finishing at the rim.
The biggest knock will be the shooting. Cooper’s shooting wasn’t just low, it was an alarming 22.8%. But there’s hope.
He shot 82% at the free-throw line and his shot release has promise. He can look fluid shooting, but the base of his jump shot needs work. It’s a nonchalant, low to the ground jump-shot. He may have nice ball-handling, but you’ll need to create as much space as possible if you’re a 6’1 guard in the NBA.
If Sharife Cooper can become a shooter, it dramatically raises his ceiling.
The Washington Wizards are hoping Cooper can grow by being their bench point guard where he can operate against opposing 2nd units. At just 19-years-old, there’s plenty of room for Sharife Cooper to grow, and he could be this team’s starting point guard a few years down the line.