The Golden State Warriors went all-in on a veteran backcourt when they traded away Jordan Poole for Chris Paul this offseason. They have now added a young guard to learn from the veterans.
The Warriors are signing NBA Summer League star Lester Quinones to a two-way contract, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic. The 6-foot-4 guard was one of the most impressive players on Golden State’s 2023 NBA Summer League roster this month. Quinones held averages of 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists across seven contests in both Las Vegas and the California Classic.
Guard Lester Quinones has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on a two-way NBA deal, per sources. Quinones will enter training camp with a strong opportunity for full roster spot. He averaged 21.9 PPG, 4.4 APG and 4.1 RPG in seven Summer League games for the Warriors.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2023
The Dominican-American guard went undrafted in 2022 out of the University of Memphis. He eventually signed a two-way contract with the Warriors in March after serving as the first option on their G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors. Quinones played 18 total minutes in four NBA games with the Warriors last year.
Some Warriors fans are buzzing about the possibility of Quinones as the next Poole. Both play as confident combo guards with natural scoring ability.
Lester Quinones tonight
32 PTS
4 REB
6 AST
3 STL
2 BLK8-17 FG
4-9 3PT
70% TS%The next Jordan Poole?? 👀⭐️ pic.twitter.com/5rS7xkIuti
— QuinonesMuse (@QuinonesMuse25) July 15, 2023
Lester Quinones of the Warriors summer league fan really be something for the Warriors off the bench. Like his game. Heat check guy and similar to Jordan Poole’s game
— Steven Golden (@GBpickem) July 15, 2023
The Warriors have never been afraid to feature young guards in their rotations over the years. Before Poole, names like Ian Clark and Quinn Cook played prominent roles on Finals-bound rosters as inexperienced prospects. Quinones will likely receive a similar opportunity from head coach Steve Kerr at some point next season.
Between Paul, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Gary Payton II, and free agent signing Cory Joseph, Golden State’s non-rookie guards own an average career length of over 12.2 seasons in the NBA. Quinones joins 2023 first-round pick Brandin Podziemski as the injection of youth in the Warriors’ backcourt this season.
Quinones is expected to compete for one of the final two guaranteed NBA roster spots the Warriors still have open.
