The Warriors are expected to convert Lester Quinones to a standard NBA contract, allowing the team to play the wing without worrying about a games played limitation.
Quinones, 23, was the 2023 Most Improved Player in the G League. In the weeks leading up to the All-Star break, he’d earned a regular role in Golden State’s rotation, surpassing Moses Moody in the pecking order while on a two-way deal.
In nine February games, Quinones is averaging 7.1 points in 19.6 minutes per game. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard rebounds well for his size and has shot 39.6% on 3s this year.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Warriors’ intention to convert his contract, citing Quinones’ agents.
Players on a two-way contracts are permitted to be active for 50 regular season games. Quinones has played in 19 games and has been active for 28 overall, meaning a standard deal will remove any stress on whether or not he can suit up.
Quinones went undrafted out of Memphis in 20222 but latched on with the Warriors organization on a two-way deal. The Warriors waived him in October of that year, but he quickly signed with the G League Santa Cruz Warriors team. He made his NBA debut last spring and has proven himself as an NBA-caliber player this year.
The details of Quinones’ contract weren’t immediately clear and the team hasn’t made an official announcement. According to ESPN salary cap expert and former front office executive Bobby Marks, the Warriors have until Feb. 22 to sign a player to their 14th roster spot vacated by the Cory Joseph trade. Golden State can back-fill Quinones’ two-way slot until the March 4 deadline.
