Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper were both considered risky picks on draft night, but the Hawks‘ rookies appear to be much less of a gamble after strong showings during Summer League, writes Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. Johnson slipped to No. 20 after playing just 13 games at Duke and leaving school early to prepare for the draft. Cooper fell to No. 48 after a freshman season at Auburn that was delayed 11 games because of eligibility issues.
Both could be steals based on their early performances in Las Vegas, Peek observes. Johnson has been one of the most versatile players in the league and excels in the open court. Cooper has been a reliable playmaker and has eased concerns about his outside shooting.
“This isn’t just Summer League for me,” Cooper said. “Any game where I put on a jersey and represent something way bigger than me in the Hawks, it’s something I don’t take lightly.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard wasn’t planning to trade Russell Westbrook this summer, but he changed course when the opportunity arose to send him to the Lakers, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “I had a heart-to-heart with Russell and it was important to him that I knew and the Wizards knew he wants to play here,” Sheppard said. “If there was ever an opportunity with the Lakers, that would be the one place. I look at his Hall-of-Fame career and all he did for us, certainly, for me, I will try to help a guy as long as it helps the Wizards. In this case, we could do a deal and it did help the Wizards.”
- Hornets rookie Kai Jones is confident enough to become the first Charlotte player to wear No. 23 since Michael Jordan became owner of the franchise, notes Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer. The 6’11” power forward is getting plenty of his attention in Las Vegas for his athleticism and dunking prowess. “I think until you see him out there with (LaMelo Ball) and the entire group, we won’t have a true sense of what he can be for our program,” coach James Borrego said. “He’s working through our Summer League right now and trying to figure it out along the way, but he’s a tremendous athlete.”
- The Heat weren’t able to trade for a draft pick to select DeJon Jarreau, but they wound up with the Houston guard anyway and like what they have seen during Summer League, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Jarreau, who may be in contention for one of Miami’s two-way contracts, posted 10 assists in a game this week.
Pure BS by Wizards saying they traded Westbrook as a favor. Beal didn’t like playing with Westbrook so they took the opportunity to trade him and Lakers were a team in a must win now situation. Opportunity to trade away a $45 million contract is do it now type of trade.
No one wants to play with a selfish player like Russell Westbrook. Poor LA.
Yet if he was still on the Rockets, he’d be in your screen name
He was, begrudgingly, for one season. But gladly no longer.
I must have explained this like a million times here already.
I despised Westbrick long before he was in Washington or LA.
So what’s your take on Yao then? Lmao
Despised him, yet made him half your screename? Sure
What does Washington know about winning basketball games lol
What is your source that Beal didn’t like playing with Russ?
I have never known of anyone not to like Westbrook, so if you can back up your claim that will be much appreciated… but if as usual you are just making up BS to create your own narrative, then just get lost dude!
BTW the only reason I can see that Beal didn’t like Westbrook is that the team was sooo much better when Russ played & Beal didn’t as Russ was light years the best player in the team, relegating Beal to a distant #2, but in that case it would show poorly on Beal & be a huge compliment to Westbrook, hence there is no scenario in which your claim can be true!
Come on “dude”. So your saying all of the superstars that played with him stuck around? The only star he made it longer then a year with was KD and Durant in OKC and they were both young.
You seem pretty worried about his perception but no one is saying they don’t want to have a beer with the guy. No one can play with a high volume shooter who can only play if he has the ball in his hands constantly.
He’s hard to call selfish with all of his assists but his assists are for show. He’s the guy that gives to charity so he can show you the receipt.
The only way LA works is if he and Lebron are never on the court together. That way they have scoring when Lebron is resting but the ball actual moves when Lebron is on the court.
Facts are Beal had a meeting with the GM right before Westbrook was shipped out. Beal was talking about leaving before but said he likes the direction of the team after the trade. Wizards also signed a friend of Beals.
If Westbrook was on the Warriors, arc89, you would be slobbering all over him. That is closer to a “fact” than your BS comments. But, hey, at least you are consistent.
No because he is not a fit on warriors. Watch how Laker fans will turn on Westbrook when they lose. Westbrook is who he is a stats first player. LeBron goal is a championship not stats. I can see a lot of turmoil there. Westbrook better put the team first over his stats if not he fails big time. You have a deep hatred for warriors so can you explain that?
Just not sure how this will work in LA. LeBron likes to fill up his stat sheet; Westbrook does the same. Two major divas on the same team; this will be interesting to watch. This team will either dominate or be a total train wreck.
LJ defers to AD and will to RW too. Playoff time may be different, depending on injuries, but that is a ways off.
Utah managed to be not worse.
Both players like to stuff the stat sheet but Bron has proved over and over in his career he’s willing to let his team mates play bigger roles if that’s what’s best for the team and get results.
I think the fit might be a little ugly with the lack of spacing but end of the day they have 3 insanely talented players that want to win. They have intensity, leadership, experience, basketball IQ, determination and hunger. That’s stuff you can’t really teach, and in comparison to the Nets big three they lack that leadership, there is some weak mindedness there, are they all fully focused, also injury concerns and a lack of defence.
Im more confident the Lakers and LeBron will find a way to play with Russ and a lack of shooting yet still win games, than the Nets overcoming a lack of leadership, not all being focused and hungry to win the big games.
I can see Bron playing from the post getting Russ on cuts, or playing to AD on miss matches or finding shooters on the outside. You also have a locker room built around wanting to win with Melo, Nunn, Dudley, Howard etc etc.
Alternatively, I can also see Kyrie doing some more crazy stuff. He’s already said the moon landing was fake, the earth in flat and dinosaurs didn’t exist. Then you have KD with his burner accounts. It all looks abit soft and weak.
I can’t wait for that down-the-wire LAKERS game, when Russ goes against the play – he demands for the ball and throws up a 25-footer which naturally clanks.
The look on LeBron’s face will be absolutely priceless.
SIZE UP THOSE RINGS BABY!!
I think Russell is ready to make the sacrifices to win a championship. He needs to be able to hit the open shot now because he will be open. Hopefully that is what he is working on this summer.
I did not know what to expect from JJ and Sharife but it certainly looks like the Hawks got a couple good players. JJ is putting on an absolute show. Athletically, he is a freak.
I am glad DeJon Jarreau is getting an opportunity with an organization like Miami. He has matured so much under Calvin Sampson at Houston. He’s one of those kids you just can’t help rooting for.
Coach Calvin Sampson, the college BB version of JR Ewing.
People are going to recognize one day that Travis Schlenk is the best GM in the NBA. Hawks will be a team to contend with for a long tim with him in charge of personnel decisions.
Schlenk was quick to “clear house” after some defections, and then to make good use of the resulting draft picks. He did not make risky picks like Presti is… or wily Calvin Sampson on another comeback trail lol
Sean Marks as well, both managed to steal the Draft with late picks, the rich got richer.