Atlanta Hawks sign Quinn Cook to a partially guaranteed deal
The Atlanta Hawks may have completed their roster overhaul by signing Quinn Cook to a two-year contract about a month before the start of training camp.
The meticulous roster transformation for the Atlanta Hawks may be complete.
The addition of Quinn Cook to a partially guaranteed two-year contract follows a very calculated rebuilding process implemented by new general manager Travis Schlenk.
Cook is expected to compete with Malcolm Delaney as the primary backup to point guard Dennis Schroder.
Like many of the other moves made by the Hawks this summer, the move carries little risk for the future with the team.
Free agent guard Quinn Cook has agreed to a partially guaranteed, two-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, agent Jim Tanner tells The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 20, 2017
Since Schlenk assumed the role as Atlanta’s general manager in June, leaving his role as the assistant general manager of the Golden State Warriors in the middle of their title run a year ago, the team has dealt away Dwight Howard and Ryan Kelly in trades.
Once free agency began, the Hawks allowed Paul Millsap, Tim Hardaway Jr., Thabo Sefolosha, Jose Calderon, Mike Dunleavy, Mike Scott and Kris Humphries to leave in free agency.
With each deal this summer, Atlanta brought in unproven players all on low-risk contracts. Of the six new additions to the roster, only Miles Plumlee, the primary piece in return for Howard, has a guaranteed contract for the 2019-20 season.
The Atlanta Hawks made it known a third point guard on the roster was a necessity, as second round pick Tyler Dorsey, a point guard out of Oregon, will likely spend much of next season in the G League after struggling to make an impact at the NBA Summer League.
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Last season, Atlanta carried only two point guards on its opening day roster — Schroder and Delaney — before bringing in Calderon as part of its playoff push.
Cook has made the most of his time in the G League, starring for the Canton Charge and earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2015-16 after he averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and connecting 86 times from 3-point range.
The former Duke guard padded his resume last season by leading the G League in scoring at 26 points per game, along with 6.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
The six-foot guard also secured MVP honors at the G League All-Star game, leading the East to a 105-100 victory as he totaled 18 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in 25 minutes.
For all of his success in the G League, Cook has made a minimal impact in the NBA since going undrafted in 2015, signing a 10-day contract with Dallas, only to have it expire and be sent back down to Canton after making five appearances.
Only 11 days later, New Orleans signed him to a 10-day and Cook capitalized on his opportunity by landing a contract for the rest of the season. Cook played nine games for the Pelicans, averaging 5.8 points and 1.6 assists per game while connecting on six of 12 attempts from 3-point range.
Three days after the 2017 NBA Draft, Cook was waived after New Orleans selected Xavier point guard Edmond Sumner with the 52nd overall pick.
Cook will earn a guaranteed salary for attending Hawks training camp next month, with the potential to earn more if he secures a roster spot. The second year of his contract does not carry a guarantee unless he is on the roster next August.
The Hawks have probably made their last roster move before the start of training camp, bringing in a 24-year-old guard they hope to develop into a key rotation piece going forward.
Atlanta carries a roster into the 2017-18 season lacking proven scorers, as Schroder is the only player on the team ever to average over 15 points per game for an entire season, ranking second on the team with an average of 17.9 points per game — a figure only surpassed by Millsap.
The 22.6 points per game Cook has averaged in G League play is the 12th most in the history of the league, as he led the Charge in total points, assists, 3-point field goals and free throws made last season.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
Cook has dominated at every stop outside of the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks are hoping he can solidify the bench and facilitate the offense anytime Schroder needs a breather.
Grade: C