In an exciting turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to sign Kobe Bufkin to a two-year standard NBA contract that includes a team option for the 2026-27 season. This signing comes on the heels of the Lakers' strategic trade deadline move where they exchanged Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard, enhancing their roster with much-needed three-point shooting capabilities.
After making just this one transaction, the Lakers have left an opportunity open on their roster to potentially add another player from the buyout market—a strategy they have successfully employed in the past with notable players like Markieff Morris, Andre Drummond, and Spencer Dinwiddie. While there are some appealing candidates available in the buyout market this year, it seems the Lakers have decided to promote from within for their final roster spot.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Lakers are bringing Bufkin aboard, who has been performing exceptionally well for the South Bay Lakers, their G League affiliate. In the current season, Bufkin has averaged an impressive 26.7 points, alongside 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, boasting a shooting percentage of 51.3% from the field and an outstanding 43.1% from beyond the arc over 21 games. Earlier this season, he received a brief call-up to the Lakers and signed a 10-day contract but saw limited playing time during that stint. Given his excellent performance in the G League, it was only a matter of time before he was signed by an NBA team, and it’s promising to see that it will be the Lakers for at least the remainder of the current season. If Bufkin continues to shine as the season progresses, it is likely that the Lakers will exercise their team option for him in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
On another note, Lakers coach JJ Redick has ambitious plans for Luke Kennard, urging him to increase his shooting attempts. Despite being recognized as one of the top shooters in the league, Kennard has not consistently taken high volume shots, averaging only 4.4 attempts from deep per game. Redick expressed his excitement about Kennard, stating, "I’ve known him for about 12 years now, and I believe he is among the best shooters in the NBA. I’m going to strongly encourage him to shoot more and not shy away from opportunities. One often overlooked aspect of his game is his ability to move without the ball, create secondary actions, and facilitate the offense. At various stops in his career, he has shown he can initiate plays through off-ball movement and make the right decisions to get the offense flowing. He’ll serve as a threat from the corner and off-ball, and we’re thrilled to have him on our team."
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