Cook’s dreams come true with contract
Point guard Quinn Cook has signed a multiyear contract with the Warriors, the team announced Tuesday.
A two-year guaranteed deal was finalized on the final day of the regular season. Because of the nature of his previous two-way contract, Cook needed his deal converted to a standard contract to be on the postseason roster.
“It’s a dream come true,” Cook said after practice Tuesday. “I’m thankful for the opportunity. I’m just humbled, and it’s just more motivation for me to help this team out as much as possible. I know they believe in me. It’s just more motivation to get better as a teammate, as a player and just keep growing.”
With Stephen Curry expected to miss the first round of the playoffs with a sprained left MCL, Golden State needed insurance at point guard. The only point guard available other than Cook, who has started in Curry’s absence, is 32-yearold Shaun Livingston.
There was no better choice than a proven shooter who has spent all season in the team’s system. In his past 14 games, Cook has averaged 17.1 points, 4.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He is shooting 49.2 percent from the field this season, 44.6 percent from three-point range and 90.5 percent from the foul line.
It is quite the breakthrough for a player who has had a tough time finding professional stability since he went undrafted out of Duke in 2015. In less than three years, Cook has been waived four times and signed three 10-day contracts.
“I just want to keep getting better, keep living in the moment, staying ready, staying solid,” said Cook, who became the first player in the 17-year history of the G League (formerly the Development League) to shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the foul line in a season. “I don’t want to think I’m never going back to the G League, but I’m thankful, man. I just want to keep getting better.”
To free up a playoff roster spot for Cook, Golden State waived Omri Casspi on Saturday.
Iguodala update: After missing six of the Warriors’ final seven regular-season games with left knee soreness, forward Andre Iguodala is poised to return for the postseason opener.
“I fully expect him to be in the lineup in Game 1,” head coach Steve Kerr said after shootaround Tuesday.