Lester

Quinones

Quinones showed some fun flashes during his two seasons with the Warriors, but he was never able to carve out a consistent role. Now, he’ll have a fresh start on the other side of the country. He’ll likely spend most of his time in the G-League, so this won’t have much of an impact on fantasy basketball.

Payton has been cleared after sitting out Saturday’s home loss to the Spurs. While his presence will not significantly impact fantasy basketball, this could result in fewer minutes for Moses Moody, while Lester Quinones drops entirely out of the rotation. Quinones was not playing enough to merit being streamed in any fantasy league.

Wiggins’ absence should free up more playing time for Gary Payton II, Klay Thompson and Lester Quinones. Chris Paul will make his return after nearly two months on the shelf, and it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll get in his first game back.

Quinones spent the first few months of the season in the G-League, but he has taken on a larger role with the Warriors as of late. He will only play limited minutes as a reserve, so he isn’t a player that will make much of a fantasy impact this season. However, he should remain on the radar for dynasty managers.

Already in the rotation, Podziemski took additional minutes during the second half after Andrew Wiggins was ruled out with a sprained ankle. The 39 minutes matched a season-high for the rookie guard, who’s hit double figures in scoring in four straight and six of his last eight games. Rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues, Podziemski is worth a look in deeper formats, especially if Wiggins misses time. The Warriors being as shorthanded as they were also resulted in Lester Quinones playing 23 minutes, and he finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and four 3-pointers. Unlike Podziemski, there isn’t a need to add Quinones right now.

The star of Summer League shined in this preseason game with Steve Kerr managing the minutes of the starters. Stephen Curry and Chris Paul got the night off, which bumped some of the bench guys into the starting unit and allowed Quinones to close the game. He didn’t disappoint. Quinones is only on a two-way contract and will likely spend a majority of the season in the G-League. However, after a really good Summer League performance, he’s worth stashing in dynasty leagues.

Quinones will be back with the Warriors for another season, and this transaction leaves the team with two available two-way contract slots. Undrafted out of Memphis in 2022, Quinones was one of the best performers at Summer League earlier this month. While he could get some playing time on the back end of the rotation, that’s unlikely to make Quinones a player worth rostering in fantasy leagues.

Quinones, who played 32 minutes, had a very good summer despite the Warriors losing all five of their games in Las Vegas. The Warriors did take the step of extending him a qualifying offer in late June, making Quinones a restricted free agent. Given how well he played in two summer leagues, it’s a good thing that the Warriors did. None of the team’s two-way slots have been filled, so keep an eye on Quinones in the coming days.

Quinones has had some big offensive performances this summer, but this certainly wasn’t his best. However, he made it up for it by contributing in other areas. He has received comparisons to Jordan Poole for his style of play and movement, and the Warriors may have lucked out if he turns out to be as good. It’s encouraging to see him producing in other areas when his shot isn’t falling, and he could end up seeing time in the NBA instead of spending his season in the G-League.

Quinones continues to produce in Las Vegas, likely enhancing his chances of earning a two-way spot ahead of training camp. The same can be said for Gui Santos, who finished the overtime defeat with 17 points, 10 rebounds, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 34 minutes. NBA teams get three two-way spots this season, with the extra slot allowing for a little more flexibility. At a minimum, Quinones and Santos may be on their way to earning a training camp invite, even if the Warriors decide to hold off on handing out two-way deals.