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One of the reasons why the Warriors hold Quinn Cook in such high regard, and why the Lakers acquired him, was on full display after a Summer League game this week.

Cook came out of the stands and onto the court at the end of the Warriors-Lakers game Monday to shake hands and share a moment with nearly every player and coach from both teams. Cook agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal the Lakers last week after the Warriors let him go to clear cap space.

“It was tough for me with how everything went down, but no hard feelings,” Cook said by phone Wednesday night. “We’re family forever and champions forever.”

Cook’s appearance on the court after Monday night’s game also spoke of his desire to make inroads with the Lakers. Tuesday night, he chatted at length with Frank Vogel, the Lakers’ new coach. Cook planned to arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday to begin his off-season training.

“I got a lot to prove and a lot to work on,” Cook said. “I have so much more to learn. I’m excited to keep learning, and I’m thankful for another great opportunity.”

Cook originally envisioned receiving another opportunity with the Warriors. They had granted Cook a $1.9 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent. They also mostly remained encouraged with Cook’s development in the past two seasons as a playmaker and shooter that began on a two-way contract (2017-18) and morphed into a regular rotation spot (2018-19).

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“I thought they wanted me back,” Cook said. “Me and my agent figured they would extend my qualifying offer. Once they did, you never know what happens.”

First, the Warriors experienced rejection. Despite winning two NBA titles with them in the past three years, Kevin Durant declined the Warriors’ five-year, $221 million offer. Instead, he agreed to a four-year, $164 million deal with Brooklyn Nets after also landing All-Star point guard and close friend, Kyrie Irving. Though Durant is expected to miss all of next season after injuring his right Achilles tendon against Toronto in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Durant’s defection both changed the Warriors’ identity and the Eastern Conference landscape.

“It’s what he was most comfortable with and I’m happy for him,” said Cook, who is close friends with Durant. “He’s good. He’s attacking his rehab. He’s doing well. He’s in great spirits.”

Then, Cook experienced rejection. To offset Durant’s departure, the Warriors acquired All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell from Brooklyn in a sign-and-trade. The Warriors suddenly became strapped financially. Russell had agreed to a four-year, $119 million deal. Since the Warriors performed a sign-and-trade, they then became subject to a hard cap. So the Warriors dealt veteran Andre Iguodala to Memphis to acquire a $17.2 million trade exception. The Warriors still had enough money to retain Kevon Looney on a three-year, $15 million deal. They did not have enough money elsewhere, though, beyond signing players veteran’s minimum deals. Since the Warriors already acquired Russell, though, they relieved themselves of more salary by rescinding Cook’s qualifying offer and making him an unrestricted free agent.

“It was hard to process. I’ve never been through that before,” said Cook, 26, who will be with his the 26-year-old Cook said. “It was my first restricted free agency go around. So I didn’t know what to expect.”

Immediately, Cook said the Lakers and four other teams expressed interest. He found the Lakers to be the most enticing option for a few reasons.

One, Cook said he “felt wanted.” Cook said that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka told him that he was “the perfect fit” for their backcourt after winning an NBA title out of two Finals appearances with the Warriors.

Two, Cook already had close relationships with James and Anthony Davis. Cook referred to Davis as “a brother;” they were teammates for a short time in New Orleans (2016-17). Cook referred to James as “my vet.” During Cook’s four years at Duke, James was a frequent guest of coach Mike Krzyzewski. Cook also was with James and the Cleveland Cavaliers during training camp in 2015. They stayed in touch since then.

“Any time over my career, he would make sure I was good, talking to me and giving me advice,” Cook said. “To have a guy like that in your corner who I can reach out to any time and gives me advice, it helps me at every stage of my career. It’s something I’ve never taken for granted. I’m looking forward to reuniting with him again.”

Third, the Lakers are a serious contender in the West after adding Davis to a lineup with James and Kyle Kuzma. They were the odds-on favorite in the West until the Clippers added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

“We definitely will be able to compete for a championship,” Cook said. “That was the biggest thing. Just to keep learning and be around good players every day and keep getting better as a player. I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

The exact nature of the opportunity remains to be seen. Rondo, Cook and Alex Caruso will likely share a backcourt. James will reportedly share point-guard duties, too.

“We have so many great players. That’s always a great problem to have,” Cook said. “Every player on our roster is really really good. I just think we’ll be a great team. I don’t know about who is going to play, who is going to start or what lineups there will be. I just know everybody is going to get out there and compete at a high level.”

Once Cook agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Lakers, though, his thoughts circled back to the Warriors. He described his two-year tenure with them as “the best two years of basketball for me.” Shortly after Cook’s deal went public, several Warriors coaches and players expressed support.

“I haven’t been any closer to a group than I was with them. We’re really family,” Cook said.

Cook plans to cement and create new bonds with the Lakers. That begins on Thursday after experiencing a free-agency period that he called “a crazy couple of days for me.”

“It was cool just to have team inquiring and feeling wanted,” Cook said. “But this is a tough business. I learned that it’s just a business.”

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