The Cleveland Cavaliers have recently signed Sharife Cooper, a standout player from their G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, to a 10-day deal. Cooper, aged 22, has been part of the broader Cavs organization since 2022, primarily playing for the Charge. Originally drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 NBA Draft after his college career at Auburn, Cooper has shown promise and skill during his time in the G League.
In his 19 games with the Charge, Cooper has demonstrated impressive stats, averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in nearly 34 minutes per game. His performance led to him being named to the All-NBA G League second team last season and selected for the 2023 NBA G League Next Up Game during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.
Despite his talent and productivity in the G League, Cooper faces challenges in finding playing time with the Cavaliers. With key players like Darius Garland and Caris LeVert commanding significant minutes, and Craig Porter Jr. serving as the backup point guard, the path for Cooper to secure a spot in the rotation is narrow.
Standing at 6’1” and weighing 190 pounds, Cooper's size may pose limitations in his defensive capabilities as a point guard. While he possesses NBA-level talent and athleticism, the current roster dynamics and the team's focus on solidifying rotations for the upcoming playoffs present obstacles for Cooper to break into the main lineup.
As the Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff finalizes his rotation strategy for the playoff push, Cooper may find it challenging to secure significant playing time. With only eight players typically seeing substantial minutes in a game, and with established depth options like Porter Jr. and Sam Merrill available, Cooper's opportunities to contribute on the court may be limited in the near term.
