<p>LOS ANGELES — Backup guard Quinn Cook has been waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.</p>
<p>The defending NBA champions announced the move Wednesday, shortly before Cook’s contract would have been guaranteed.</p>
<p>Cook averaged 2.1 points while appearing in 16 games this season for the Lakers, who also waived him in November before re-signing him in December.</p>
<p>Cook was a popular locker room presence who was also a backup on last season’s title-winning team, averaging 5.1 points while winning his second NBA championship ring in three years. Before joining the Lakers in 2019, Cook spent two seasons with Golden State.</p>
<p>Cook’s departure opens a second roster spot for the Lakers, whose need for a backup center has seemed obvious lately. Marc Gasol has started 32 games for Los Angeles, and All-Star big man Anthony Davis is out for at least three more weeks with a calf injury.</p>
<p>The Lakers (22-10) are on their first three-game losing streak of the season heading into their game at NBA-leading Utah on Wednesday night.</p>
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