Los Angeles Lakers: Buy, sell, or trade Quinn Cook stock

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 01: Quinn Cook #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on March 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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2. Veteran minimum player might be better?

Here’s where things start to get interesting. The Lakers for the foreseeable future are a destination that will attract veterans. Veterans looking for a ring that have made plenty of money in their career.

That leaves wide open the possibility of veteran minimum contracts for guys. Players that want to win right now and getting a larger deal isn’t the priority. With those contracts being less than what Cook makes, the Lakers might be better going that route.

You can also add in the fact the team has the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and also the bi-annual exception. They can use both of those to help the team with shooting and scoring options. With Cook not providing much else this could prove a good route.

So bowing out of the $3 million owed to Cook the Lakers can let him out onto the market. They will have plenty of options to replace him with either a much more proven player or a cheaper option. Which they need at this time on their bench.

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