Auburn basketball: DK calls Sharife Cooper “big target” for Knicks

If former Auburn basketball star Sharife Cooper’s NBA Draft Combine measurement stats are accurate, he may be a “big-time target” by the only team in the league that also features a former Tigers point guard (Jared Harper).

The New York Knicks–who elevated their profile from perennial punching bag to owning a postseason home-field advantage this past season–could be in the hunt for the pass-first PG this July when the 2021 NBA Draft goes down.

The Knicks own the #19 and #21 picks in this upcoming draft by way of the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2019 that sent the Dallas Mavericks’ selection to the Big Apple. Could they perhaps land Cooper with one of them?

Daily Knicks’ Adam Kester thinks so (with a condition):

"Below is a list of some of the popular Knicks targets’ and their measurements.James Bouknight – 6’4.75 with shoes, 6’8.25 wingspanMoes Moody – 6’6 with shoes, 7’0.75 wingspanDavion Mitchell – 6’1.25 with shoes, 6’4.25 wingspanSharife Cooper – 6’4.75 with shoes,Jared Butler – 6’3.75 with shoes, 6’4 wingspanJared Springer – 6’4.25 with shoes, 6’7.75 wingspanTre Mann – 6’4.25 with shoes, 6’4 wingspanThe most surprising is Sharife Cooper. Cooper is already a very popular prospect and there is already some doubt about the accuracy of these measurements. But hey, perhaps he had a growth spurt? If so, he’s a big “winner” from this combine and will be a big target for New York."

For reference, Alabama’s Jaden Shackelford measures at six-foot-three, and Cooper didn’t look small comparatively when the two programs shared the floor. That said, the idea that Cooper is almost six-foot-five with shoes on seems very far-fetched, even with his hair giving him an extra inch or two. Most had Cooper’s height around six-foot-one this past season.

Regardless of whether or not his NBA Draft Combine stats are correct, though, Cooper would fill a position of need for the Knicks. At worst, NY could replace Elfrid Payton with a cheaper alternative in the Newark-born Cooper.

The narrative is there for the Knicks another former Auburn basketball guard. Let’s hope being vertically challenged doesn’t cause Cooper to fall further down the draft boards than where New York sits.