Potential late lottery pick Sharife Cooper has been making the rounds. He’s worked out for the Thunder, Rockets, Warriors, Lakers, Clippers and Celtics, Adam Zagoria of the New York Times tweets. As previously noted, Cooper has worked out for the Hornets and has also visited the Pacers. The Auburn point guard is currently ranked No. 17 overall on ESPN’s Best Available list.
We have more draft-related intel:
- Giorgi Bezhanishvili has recently worked out for the Spurs, Hornets and Bulls, Zagoria reports in another tweet. The junior forward who played for Illinois is a potential second-round selection.
- Ziaire Williams was brought in for a second workout with the Magic, draft expert Chad Ford tweets. The Stanford freshman wing is ranked No. 24 by ESPN, but Ford views Williams as a potential lottery selection. Orlando owns the No. 5 and 8 picks.
- Jalen Johnson left Duke in mid-February after losing playing time but he brushes aside questions about his character, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee writes. “Those really aren’t red flags,” Johnson said. “People say a lot of things about me, but they say those things without knowing me. … I don’t like seeing that stuff and I know my parents see that stuff, and I know it hurts them, because at the end of the day these people are making judgments without knowing me, without speaking to me, without saying a word to me.” Johnson is still expected to go in the lottery.
No one really knows most players, they only see what you show them. And Jalen Johnson showed himself to be a QUITTER when the chips get down. That is beyond a red flag to me, that is a get off the track and make room for someone else that wants to try.
I have no chips in this game so to speak… So I sincerely don’t care either way… But like the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.
Just getting ready for the draft, which can be done better without been a part of a team, no worries there with JJ, as it goes nothing to see here, kid deserve no criticism at all, more like praise for doing the right thing! Wish more kids would follow his example as a matter of fact!
If you want to worry about yourself, then don’t play a TEAM sport. Go play tennis or golf and you won’t have to worry about having other people depend on you.
But then again, I really shouldn’t be surprised that you support someone quitting a college team. I am absolutely shocked that you even bother using the English language since that is something you learn in school.
I didn’t learn English at school, so I don’t really know what your point is, but again that is usual with yourself, right?
Of course, they’re red flags. Silly to say otherwise. Character matters. Doesn’t mean it can’t be addressed by him in interviews, but it’s certainly an issue. If he has an explanation for the seemingly inexplicable (quitting on his team mid-year), then presumably he’s given it to the relevant teams to consider. Not realistic to think it won’t affect his draft status to some degree.
bezhanishvili will suprise alot of people if he gets a decent chance for some playing time with his skill set in the gleague. good fundamentals. he didn’t get to showcase himself as much because he was behind ayo, frazier, curbelo, and kofi.
Johnson is going lottery. And he’s been moving up the board. So it means nothing. He was 18 yrs old and banged up. He already knew he was leaving anyway. He’s going to be solid big 3 in NBA. Plays both ways, rebounds and has plenty upside.
Vrenz Bleijenbergh is a nice lookin stretch 4. Needs too add on girth. But is a high IQ big that can shoot and handle the ball. Would not mind him at 32 at all. Keep him in Europe another yr, let him play. Kids got a future.