Former Michigan State center Carson Cooper is on the move for the first time in his young NBA career as the rookie has been signed by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The news got lost in the shuffle on Tuesday night because Michigan State was playing Duke in a top-five battle. This news dropped in the middle of the Spartans’ “upset” of the No. 2 Blue Devils in Chicago so Michigan State fans were a little preoccupied, but this is a major development for the rookie’s NBA career.
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center from Jackson, Mich., made his NBA debut on Halloween when he played three minutes, scored a point, grabbed two rebounds, and had an assist. He was able to make his presence felt in what was essentially a blink of playing time.
Cooper is now moving from Tennessee to Los Angeles where he’ll join the Lakers on a two-way deal. What this means is that he’ll be splitting time between the Lakers’ G-League affiliate and the active roster — that’s the deal he had with the Grizzlies previously.
The Los Angeles media has pointed out that Cooper is going to fill a need for the Lakers immediately as a backup center option.
The Lakers have had a tough time finding quality center play behind Walker Kessler this season and Kevon Looney has struggled. Cooper could fill that role that Looney was expected to play and he could see some early minutes given the need. It’s not often you see a rookie on a two-way deal on the move just weeks into the season, but the Lakers are desperate for help.
Cooper has shown before that he’s capable of exceeding expectations and given how hard of a worker he is, coupled with his potential, it wouldn’t shock anyone if he’s able to carve out a role in Los Angeles.
Carson Cooper is going to get his shot
The Lakers made a move to bring Cooper in because they like his potential and because they need him to fill a specific role. The team is playing well right now, but the center position could become a weakness if Kessler doesn’t get the help he needs.
Cooper may not have a role early on in his two-way contract with the Lakers, but they didn’t sign him just for him to play strictly in the G-League. He’s going to get his shot.
The former Michigan State big man showed plenty of promise during Summer League action and he earned a two-way deal with the Grizzlies so he definitely belongs. Now it’s up to him to prove that he can be more than just a “two-way deal player” and work his way into a contract for next season and beyond.
Cooper will back up Kessler and Looney and he replaces Lawson Lovering who was waived to make room for the Spartan rookie.
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