Lester Quiñones gets an NBA contract; Magic rumored to pursue Klay in free agency; Klay as 6th man; plus open thread.

Update: Pat Spencer gets LQ’s two-way spot

Update: Pat Spencer gets Two-Way Contract

Captain Jack shared with us:

https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1760386050680303916

The Warriors are signing Pat Spencer to a two-way contract, per sources. He replaces Lester Quinones, who is being promoted to main roster. Spencer has been in GSW program the last two seasons. Playing for Santa Cruz this season. Former college lacrosse superstar.

Lester Quinones gets an NBA contract

Woj says:

The Golden State Warriors plan to convert two-way guard Lester Quiñones to a standard NBA contract, Mike Miller and Derek Malloy of LiftSportsMngMt tell ESPN. Quinones — who has averaged 4.8 points for Warriors this season — was the 2023 Most Improved Player in the G League.

Bobby Marks adds:

Some notes on the signing:

• Golden State had up until Thursday to sign a 14th player.

• Quinones signed a 1 year Two-Way with Golden State and the contract conversion is for the rest of the season.

• He will be a Restricted FA if Golden State tenders him a one-year $2.1M Qualifying Offer.

• Because of their finances, Golden State could not sign Quinones to a contract for 3+ years.

• Last day to fill the vacant Two Way is March 4

Brandon Podziemski profile

A long one from Anthony Slater, so it has to be good. One good clip out of many:

“He was great on the court,” Lacob said. “Like, really good. Clearly the best player in the workout.”

The Warriors then brought him into the film room and had him break down two games of tape. They don’t often learn much in these sessions. Podziemski was different. They slowed down some of his pick-and-roll decision-making against Gonzaga and defensive possessions.

“He could reference personnel on the other team,” Lacob said. “Names, tendencies, opponent actions. His memory recall was super impressive.”

Podziemski popped in the Warriors’ analytics model, put together by their vice president of analytics Pabail Sidhu. They value it with increased frequency. Podziemski’s 8.8 rebounds per game led his conference. That juiced the analytics model. When it was all wrapped together, Podziemski finished top-10 on the front office’s consensus final draft board.

“There was a belief that he was clearly a Steve Kerr system fit, but also a consensus belief it was more than that,” Lacob said. “The talent combined with the IQ and the personality was something to bet on.”

Rumor: Orlando Magic pursuing Klay as free agent

Marc Stein says:

I am not budging from my belief that Klay Thompson will retire a Warrior.

I remain convinced that Thompson will ultimately find common ground with Golden State on a new contract in the offseason that keeps him connected with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Curry, to be clear, is not done chasing championships at (almost) 36. But he wants to do it with Thompson and Green at his side. And that matters.

However ...

Something to file away: Orlando has been increasingly mentioned as a potential suitor for Thompson in free agency.

The Magic's available cap space is difficult to project this far out. That figure could rise as high as $45 million but depends on their future plans with free agents-to-be Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris as well as Jonathan Isaac (whose $17.4 million salary next season is non-guaranteed).

Jamal Crawford on The Draymond Green Show on Klay as 6th Man, etc.

I liked listening to (18:45) Draymond talk about Mark Jackson and (~31:30) Jamal saying he called Klay about embracing 6th man before Kerr actually pulled him from the starting lineup.