Lester Quinones of Memphis basketball agrees to two-way deal with Golden State Warriors | Report
Lester Quinones, the former Memphis basketball guard who went undrafted Thursday, has agreed to a two-way deal with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Quinones, the 6-foot-5, 208-pound guard, from Brentwood, New York, followed former Tigers Jalen Duren and Josh Minott in beginning their professional careers. Duren was the 13th overall pick and eventually landed with the Detroit Pistons. Minott was the 45th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In three seasons at Memphis, Quinones averaged 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Last season, he helped Memphis reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. Quinones was also part of a core that helped the Tigers win the National Invitation Tournament in 2021.
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The positives
Quinones boasts an array of qualities that make him an attractive prospect.
Neck-and-neck for the top spot on the list are his perimeter shooting and his sound defense. Quinones shot 40% from 3-point land as a sophomore in 2020-21, then followed that up by hitting at a 39% clip beyond the arc last season.
On the defensive end, Quinones routinely lined up opposite the opponent's best player. He collected 82 steals in 87 career games and averaged 3.3 defensive rebounds per game over the past two seasons.
The concerns
The explosiveness and overall athleticism Quinones displayed at Memphis left a bit to be desired. An above-average 3-point shooter with a sound mid-range game, the bulk of Quinones' scoring opportunities around the basket came on second-chance points.
Quinones also had trouble creating his own shot and struggled with turnovers (career 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio).
Final thoughts
In the right situation, and with enough time to develop, Quinones has a chance to become a serviceable contributor.
His 3-point shooting ability alone is enough to give him a chance in the modern-day NBA.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Golden State Warriors sign Lester Quinones of Memphis: Report
