Throughout recent years, Lakers fans have learned to keep at least a little bit of attention on South Bay throughout the season.
In some cases, it’s to watch a player like Bronny James develop in his time with the team. Other times, it was to see potential undrafted gems develop into potential role players for the parent team.
This year, it’s to watch a potential reclamation project in Kobe Bufkin. The former No. 15 pick to the Hawks never found a footing in Atlanta and, after being traded in the offseason,
was waived by the Nets during training camp.
Bufkin landed in South Bay and has been terrific this season. In 10 games, he’s averaging 26 points on 53% shooting from the field and 43.4% shooting from range.
Included in that was a 42-point performance in the G League’s Tip-Off Tournament and, most recently, a 41-point showing on Saturday that also included nine assists, five rebounds and 5-8 shooting from range.
At one point this season, Bufkin’s play earned him a brief stint with the Grizzlies. In November, Memphis signed him to a 10-day hardship contract amid an injury crisis. However, he did not make it on the court and, after the 10 days had passed, Bufkin returned to South Bay.
As he continues to shine in the G League, though, the attention will continue, which could turn up the heat on the Lakers. As it stands, Bufkin is simply on a G League contract, able to sign with any NBA team. He is eligible to sign a two-way contract, which would be the most obvious pathway for the Lakers, and most other teams, to sign him.
Right now, the Lakers do not have an open two-way slot with their current contracts going to Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme and Chris Mañon. Considering what Smith Jr. just did for the actual Lakers on Sunday, his contract is secure. Timme has also shone this year in the G League and is likely safe.
Mañon, however, has not had quite the impact either on the parent Lakers or in South Bay and would seemingly be the most likely player to be waived if the Lakers do want to sign Bufkin.
There is also the chance the Lakers gamble and try to wait until they could sign Bufkin to a 10-day deal. Those deals can be signed starting Jan. 5. The Lakers are already up against the apron financially as it is, though, so they’d have to really like Bufkin and Mañon both to do that.
Or they may simply be willing to lose him to another team and prefer Mañon over him. However, given their struggles with bench scoring and Bufkin’s strong play this season, it feels like a gamble worth taking.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
