Offer to Cook is off the table
The Warriors have rescinded their qualifying offer to freeagent guard Quinn Cook, making him an unrestricted free agent, a league source confirmed with The Chronicle.
The Athletic was first to report the news.
The Warriors, who acquired AllStar guard D’Angelo Russell in a signandtrade deal with the Nets on Sunday, can’t exceed a total payroll just shy of $139 million. After a hectic first day of freeagency, they had only $10 million to pay six more players. That spelled the end of Golden State’s run with Cook, DeMarcus Cousins, Shaun Livingston and Jordan Bell.
Many within the Warriors’ organization will be sad to see Cook sign elsewhere. In his two seasons with Golden State, he became a role model for the NBA’s striving class, going from a twoway contract to a guaranteed roster spot on one of the league’s best teams. His floorspacing ability made him a good fit for head coach Steve Kerr’s motion offense.
After Cook scored nine points in 21 minutes of Game 2 of the Finals last month in Toronto, Warriors forward Draymond Green said, “Quinn Cook is our Patty Mills. He should be here for a long time.” Golden State’s front office agreed.
If not for the financial constraints levied by the sign-and-trade deal with the Nets, the Warriors almost definitely would have brought back Cook. They had tendered him a $1.9 million qualifying offer and were prepared to match any reasonable offer sheet from another team.
But Kevin Durant’s departure for Brooklyn signaled major changes for Golden State, prompting it to go allin on a youth movement. Nine of the 12 players projected to be on its 201920 roster are no older than 25. That doesn’t include Livingston, who is expected to be traded or waived before his $7.7 million for next season becomes fully guaranteed Wednesday. Fredette leaves: Guard Jimmer Fredette has left the Warriors’ summerleague team to pursue other opportunities, a league source confirmed with The Chronicle.
The Bay Area News Group was first to report the news.
Fredette — an icon at BYU who has struggled to find his niche in the NBA since going No. 10 overall to the Kings in the 2011 draft — joined Golden State at the California Classic this week in hopes of impressing enough to secure a contract with the Warriors or another team. But after totaling 19 points on 7for16 shooting in a combined 32 minutes of Golden State’s first two summerleague games, he opted to leave the team.
Fredette reportedly is weighing overseas offers and didn’t want to risk injury.