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Brooklyn Nets: Is Quinn Cook interest still there?

By Akbar Best

Brooklyn Nets Quinn Cook. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets Quinn Cook. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Before Sunday night’s big splash, the Brooklyn Nets were reportedly interested in Golden State Warriors restricted free agent guard Quinn Cook. Does he fit?

Now that the bigger pieces have landed, Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks is in the process of filling out depth and team needs. Right now at the point guard position, the Nets may have the need for a rotational player.

With D’Angelo Russell headed to the Golden State Warriors, the players at the position for the Nets consist of Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie and second-round pick Jaylen Hands. Caris LeVert can play the 1 a bit, but he’ll be spending most of his time at the 2 and 3.

With Hands probably slated to  be back and forth from the G-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, it’s looking like Irving and Dinwiddie are the main guys at the position. But in the case of one of them struggling, foul trouble or injuries (knock on wood), there needs to be an alternative.

Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype reported there is a player the Brooklyn Nets might have in mind for that alternative.

The Duke product, Quinn Cook, is drawing interest from around the league. Even the New York Knicks seem to be interested in the restricted free agent, according to Peter Vecsey.

Cook spent his last two seasons with the Golden State Warriors playing an important rotational role as Shaun Livingston declined and Stephen Curry struggled with his injuries. As the Warriors physically fell apart in the finals, Cook was asked to provide a spark off the bench.

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Although he ultimately could not do this, Cook did hit big shots in this year’s NBA Finals. But those struggles do not speak for Cook’s worth. Quinn Cook would be a great addition to the Brooklyn Nets.

As a team that is trying to find its way to the promised land, they are looking for players who have been there before, players that are familiar with the experience and know what it takes can help mold the youth. They’ll be prepared for the big moments in those times should they arise.

So in that respect, Cook is a vet, but he’s still young enough to produce and give energy at the age of 26.

Cook is coming from a winning organization in the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have built a great culture over the years themselves, so there is almost zero risk to the culture Brooklyn now prides itself on if Sean Marks were to sign Cook.

More than just a culture fit, Quinn Cook does a lot of the things coach Kenny Atkinson likes out of his players. Kenny has even praised him in the past.

Cook is a solid passer, but more importantly, he is a knock-down shooter. He is extremely deadly from beyond the arc and he has a tendency to get hot. Last year Cook shot 46.5 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from 3.

The year before that Cook shot 48.4 percent and 44.2 percent respectively. For his career he’s at 41.8 percent on 2.7 attempts per game from 3.

These percentages are great and in Atkinson’s system where the 3 ball is so important, Quinn Cook will feel right at home on a team that houses last year’s best 3-point shooter in Joe Harris and has gained some deadly shooters through the course of this offseason (Kyrie Irving, Taurean Prince, Kevin Durant).

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With the Nets hard-capped at $132 million and change this season, they’ll have to make a little space to get him unless they trade to get him from the Golden State Warriors or they can convince Cook to take the veteran’s minimum of $1.68 million.

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