Former NBA point guard Quinn Cook is leaving Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban, per Aris Barkas of Eurohoops (via Twitter).
Barkas adds that Cook, 28, who won titles as a reserve with the Warriors in 2018 and the Lakers in 2020, had already been stateside for the team’s holiday break. According to Barkas, the divorce was a mutual decision.
This departure is intriguing news, given the NBA’s frenzy to add players through 10-day hardship exception contracts due to a rash of COVID-19 cases on several teams. The 6’1″ Cook went undrafted out of Duke in 2015 but eventually carved out an NBA niche as a bench sharpshooter, starting in the middle of the 2016/17 NBA season with the Mavericks. Given that Cook is a career 40.8% three-point shooter at the NBA level, on 2.3 attempts per night, there could be a market for the vet this season.
Cook has five years of NBA experience. In that time, he has suited up for the Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors, Lakers, and the Cavaliers. After splitting the 2020/21 season between Los Angeles and Cleveland, Cook joined the Trail Blazers ahead of their 2021/22 preseason on a non-guaranteed deal.
Having lost out on a roster spot to Dennis Smith Jr., Cook opted to venture overseas, signing with Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League. Now that he is a free agent once again, it appears Cook is well-positioned to contend for a 10-day deal, should he be interested in an NBA return.
Better option than most of the dudes signed already. Wouldn’t be surprised if LAL brought him back in.