KRON4 Sports Director Jason Dumas talks Lester Quinones vs Rudy Gay, and Gary Payton II health update

on the Light Years Podcast

Jason Dumas, Sports Director at KRON4 News and Andy Liu chatted on Light Years Podcast. I pulled out a couple of interesting quotes from Jason below, but there is a lot more discussed in the entire thing:

Lester Quinones versus Rudy Gay for the 14th spot

Well, I think it's Lester's spot to lose. They've been really high on him for a while. I was talking to somebody in organization right around when the Jordan Poole trade broke. I was told, “Hey, look, you know, we're high on a number of guys. There is a reason guys like Lester were around the team through the end of the season. That wasn't just by coincidence. We like him a lot. That is why he was around... because we really like him and we think that one day he can contribute.” So I think that's his spot to lose.

I know Rudy Gay is a very, very popular name that's been floating around, but if they bring in Rudy Gay, they're likely stuck with him. I don't think it'd be one of those things like, “Hey, Rudy, we're going to bring you in and see how you mesh and you might not make it through training camp.” And I don't know if they want to lock themselves to a guy like Rudy Gay. I do think they like the luxury of being open-ended. It's been like that for a while, even going back to when GP2 came to camp and they release him. They never want to be married to those final couple of roster spots. One, for financial reasons and two, just like having their options. So I don't see Rudy Gay being brought in.

So having a Lester Quinones, if he makes the team and can do what they think he's capable of doing, can be available to play spurt minutes. Like, “hey, Lester, you might not have played in six games, but now all of a sudden you might play ten in a row.” Because Steph has a nagging injury, CP3 needs some rest, Klay is only gonna be playing four of the next six. So I think they have use for him just forecasting that roster and when you think people will and won't be available.

Gary Payton II health update

Andy: Is he finally healthy?

Jason: Yeah, yeah, he feels great. I was talking to him at Summer League and last year, it was limited. He had a lot of unfortunate situations last year. Obviously, we know the rib stuff with Portland. Then he got sick during that Kings series. It took a LOT out of him. He is not the type who's gonna talk about his ailment. One, because he doesn't want to give the opponents anything to take advantage of, but two, that's just not the type of cloth he’s cut from.

There's a lot of stuff that kind of held him back last year and he feels good. He's in shape and I think he's gonna get back to the type of player that we saw towards June in Boston when he was really just doing everything for them.