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Cook and Warriors are in ‘serious discussions’ on multi-year deal [report]

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ESPN Reporter Chris Haynes is reporting that the Golden State Warriors and point guard Quinn Cook have entered into ‘serious discussions’ on a deal that would keep Cook in the Bay Area, and allow him to play in this year’s postseason.

Haynes’ ESPN colleague Mark Spears added that the deal would extend through the end of the 2018-19 season, and that Cook’s money would be fully guaranteed.

Cook has been playing with the Warriors on a two-way contract, one that allows Cook to play in Oakland as well as Santa Cruz with the team’s G League affiliate. Players on these contracts are not allowed to compete in the playoffs, so the Warriors would need to sign Cook before the league’s April 10 deadline if they wish to use him in postseason play.

Cook’s value to the Warriors has increased almost exponentially over the past month.

The Duke product has scored double digit points for 11 straight games, while shooting 54% from the field over that span. He’s also taking care of the ball, turning it over only 1.5 times on average during that stretch.

With Stephen Curry sidelined for the start of postseason play, the Warriors would be in a tough spot without Cook at their disposal. The only other true point guard on the roster is Shaun Livingston, but head coach Steve Kerr has shown he likes to keep Livingston in his regular rotation spot as a primary ball-handler for the second unit.

That’s not to say the Warriors would be completely hapless without Cook. The brand of position-less basketball that Kerr has the Warriors run – along with the raw talent on the roster – means there is always multiple players on the floor who can bring the ball up. But the addition of Cook to the playoff roster would allow Kerr to keep his regular rotations intact, with Cook playing the unenviable roll of replacing one Stephen Curry.

If Cook does sign a full contract with the Warriors, he will be the first player in league history on a two-way contract to do so.