The San Antonio Spurs look as though they are about to enter into a long rebuild, so taking a high-upside player here very well could be the play, and Sharife Cooper is exactly that – and he’s a player that has a higher floor than a lot of people let on.
NBA Mock Draft: San Antonio Spurs select Sharife Cooper
Look, Sharife Cooper would be a very non-San Antonio pick. But honestly? The Spurs have not really been in this situation before. They are in uncharted territory considering their team that past several seasons. So maybe they do take a high upside swing here, and Cooper would make some sense.
Cooper is a pass-first, undersized point guard that can get whatever he wants at the rim because of his athleticism off the dribble.
Additionally, Cooper had one of the highest free throw rates in the country last year, visiting the line nine times per game with a made-rate of about 83-percent – that is really good. With an assist rate of over 51-percent, it’s hard to see his passing just go away at the next level. And for a player that has two elite skills, that’s the type of bet that you want to make on an NBA prospect.
The shooting was tough to watch – Cooper only hit 13 threes on 57 total attempts through 12 games. But his willingness to take those shots (in addition to the free throw volume) means he does have potential to get better in that area.
The Spurs have a plethora of young wings and forwards, as well as Dejounte Murray. They could really be satisfied with any pick here – and it would not be shocking to see them take a chance on, say, Kai Jones or Isaiah Jackson.