Source: Kings waive Quinn Cook, Kent Bazemore ahead of final preseason game against Lakers
The Kings made their first two cuts Thursday as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Lakers in their final preseason game Friday at Golden 1 Center.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings have waived guard Quinn Cook and forward Kent Bazemore, leaving them with one more cut to make before they play the Portland Trail Blazers in Wednesday’s season opener.
Cook and Bazemore both appeared in two preseason games for the Kings. Cook averaged 6.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 9.1 minutes per game while shooting 45.5% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. Bazemore averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 8.9 minutes per game, shooting 42.9% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc.
Cook, 29, finished with a flourish, scoring 10 points in 10 minutes to help the Kings hold on for a 105-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. The Kings still hold G League rights to Cook, who will likely return to the Stockton Kings after spending part of the 2021-22 season there.
Cook appeared in 11 games for Stockton last season, averaging 23.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He shot 52.4% overall and 44.6% from 3-point range. Cook previously played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Lakers, but he hasn’t been able to find a home in the NBA despite being a 40.8% 3-point shooter over 188 career games.
Bazemore, 33, was hoping for a second stint with the Kings after spending part of the 2019-20 season in Sacramento. Bazemore appeared in 25 games for the Kings after being acquired in a January 2020 trade with the Blazers, averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in a backup role.
Bazemore is a 10-year NBA veteran who has also played for the Warriors, Lakers and Atlanta Hawks.
The Kings roster now stands at 18 with one preseason game remaining. Teams can carry up to 20 players during training camp, but they are limited to 15 standard contracts and two two-way contracts once the regular season begins.
Keon Ellis and Neemias Queta hold Sacramento’s two-way contracts. Matthew Dellavedova, Sam Merrill and Chima Moneke are among the players competing for the final roster spot.
This story was originally published October 13, 2022 at 9:44 AM.
