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Pelicans Waive Lester Quinones, Opening Two-Way Slot

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Jul 24, 2025 10:36 PM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived guard Lester Quinones, according to the official NBA transactions log.

Quinones had been on a two-way contract with New Orleans, which now has one two-way slot open. The other two are held by Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson.

The 24-year-old Quinones joined the Pelicans in early March and played nine games down the stretch of the 2024-25 season. He averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from deep.

Undrafted out of Memphis in 2022, Quinones spent much of his first two NBA seasons with the Warriors, followed by a brief stint with the 76ers. He has consistently put up strong numbers in the G League, including averages of 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 41 combined games last season for the Delaware Blue Coats and Birmingham Squadron.

While Quinones has shown scoring ability, efficiency and turnovers have remained issues. He shot 43.1 percent overall and averaged 3.7 turnovers in the G League last year.

The move may reflect a shift in direction under the Pelicans’ new front office, which did not sign Quinones initially. If he clears waivers, the 6-foot-4 guard will become a free agent on Saturday.