Now that the NBA draft deadline has passed, we’re going to start seeing more college prospects scheduling pre-draft workouts with organizations as the pool of players has shrunk.
Jeremy Fears Jr. had workouts with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards before ultimately deciding to return and Jaxon Kohler had a workout with the Memphis Grizzlies. All of those teams have signed Spartans in recent years — Gary Harris with the Bucks, Cassius Winston with the Wizards, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman with the Grizzlies.
Now another Spartan could be headed to the home of a Michigan State legend. Carson Cooper reportedly had a workout with the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
Warriors are bringing in the following for a pre-draft workout today:
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) May 28, 2026
Trey Campbell (G) – Northern Iowa
Oscar Cluff (C) – Purdue
Carson Cooper (C) – Michigan State
Jaden Henley (G) – Grand Canyon
Elias Ralph (F) – Pacific
Jalen Warley (G) – Gonzaga
Honestly, Golden State would be a good spot for Cooper, especially if Draymond Green took him under his wing. The Warriors still have to re-sign Draymond, but the expectation is that he’ll opt out of his current contract and sign an extension worth much less so the organization can make some championship-level moves that require big money this offseason.
Cooper is an athletic 7-footer who can step out and hit a mid-range jumper occasionally and is comfortable with his back to the basket. He’s also a pick-and-roll machine and lob threat. Steph Curry lobs to Cooper would be a movie.
I’m getting way ahead of myself because Cooper isn’t projected to be drafted, but if he impresses during his workout, he could work his way into an undrafted free agent contract.
Carson Cooper: From unranked to NBA prospect
If I would have told you four years ago that Cooper would be working out for top NBA teams in the weeks leading up to the draft, you would have called me a massive homer.
Well, Cooper is working out for a usual Western Conference contender and he’s on the verge of being one of the greatest development stories of the Tom Izzo era. He came in as an unranked big man who grew up in Michigan and then went to IMG Academy in Florida where he played for their B-team. He didn’t redshirt — which Izzo probably regrets — and found his way into the regular rotation by his sophomore year.
Cooper has improved each season and now he’s considered a legitimate NBA prospect although he’s not expected to be drafted. I believe he deserves more NBA draft buzz, but teams may be hesitant because he can’t stretch the floor as much as they’d like.
Still, Cooper is going to generate some interest following the NBA draft and I can see him getting signed by a team like the Warriors for the Summer League.
I think we all wanted a fifth year of Cooper, but Spartan fans would be willing to sacrifice that if it meant that he’d at least sign a two-way contract with an NBA team.
This may be Izzo’s best developmental work yet.
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