Explore the latest developments concerning Ex-1st-round pick Kobe.
Ex-1st-round pick Kobe Bufkin rejoining Lakers, sources say
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LOS ANGELES — The Lakers are signing former No. 15 pick Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal, with a team option for the 2026-27 season, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Saturday.
Bufkin has starred for Los Angeles' South Bay G League affiliate and rejoins the Lakers in his third NBA season to fill their 15th roster spot.
The 22-year-old Bufkin signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers in January and averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game across four contests. He also signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in November.
Lakers signing Kobe Bufkin makes sense and was a smart move
LOS ANGELES — Before the Lakers’ victory over the Warriors, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka told a handful of beat reporters the team would likely fill its 15th and final open roster spot after doing its “due diligence”.
A few hours later, the Lakers solidified how they wanted to use the roster slot by signing Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season in a move that may have gone under the radar since it was first reported late on a Saturday night and became official during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
While the Lakers could’ve gone in different directions for filling out their roster, signing Bufkin was the right move.
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Lakers predicted to cut ties with controversial $7.9 million former second-round pick in offseason
The Los Angeles Lakers completed an early Sunday signing that many likely missed.
The 17-time NBA champions signed a 6-foot-4 guard who’s been electric with Los Angeles’ G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts believes that the addition of Bufkin ‘all but guarantees’ that the Lakers will cut ties with a controversial 6-foot-2 former second-round pick when the offseason arrives.
“Kobe Bufkin's signing all but guarantees Bronny James departure in the offseason,” Watts wrote Sunday.
“Bufkin’s two-year contract features a team option, so the Lakers can quickly move on. The 6-foot-4 guard has his shot to prove he belongs for the rest of this season, but his play doesn’t impact Bronny.”
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