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After the Los Angeles Lakers waived Kobe Bufkin, they opened up an additional roster spot ahead of their playoff push. While several names have been mentioned as possible replacements, the vacancy is expected to be filled by a player on a two-way contract. According to NBA reporter Jovan Buha, the decision is likely coming down to forward Drew Timme and guard Nick Smith Jr., both of whom would need to be signed to a standard NBA contract in order to be eligible for the playoffs.
Shams Charania: The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving guard Kobe Bufkin, sources tell ESPN. This opens a roster spot for the Lakers to evaluate a signing over the weekend.
Khobi Price: Jarred Vanderbilt has been upgraded to available for tonight at Dallas. Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero have also all been recalled from the South Bay Lakers over the last couple of days.
Jovan Buha: The Lakers have some big decisions to make. They are going to be shopping Dalton Knecht again this summer and trying to get off that. Kobe Bufkin has a team option that they have to decide on. Bronny James has a non-guaranteed contract that they have to decide on. So it's a big opportunity for those guys to show something. And I think Bronny has been shown something lately. But it is different if he's vaulted into a certain role where there are like real expectations or if he's playing in the playoffs like it's just a different different beast and we'll see how he fares if he ends up getting one of those rotation spots.
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Law Murray: The Lakers report that Marcus Smart (ankle contusion) remains out when they visit Oklahoma City The first Luka/LeBron/AR vs SGA/Chet/Dub of the season. Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht, and Adou Thiero (but NOT Bronny James) are with the #1 seed South Bay Lakers
How about Haywood Highsmith? Jovan Buha: I haven't heard anything specifically on Haywood Highsmith other than it just seems like the Lakers were not comfortable with where he's at physically right now. So we'll see if he ends up signing elsewhere and how he potentially looks, but… I was on board with Highsmith. If he was physically ready I would have signed him over Kobe Bufkin, but yeah, I like Highsmith.
Brad Turner: Lakers announced they have signed guard Kobe Bufkin. Bufkin (6’4”, 195) has appeared in 14 regular season games (13 starts) with the South Bay Lakers this season, averaging 27.7 points on 52.2 percent shooting from the field, 43.1 percent from 3-point range.
Shams Charania: The Los Angeles Lakers are signing guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal, with a team option for the 2026-27 season, sources tell ESPN. Bufkin has starred for L.A.'s South Bay affiliate and now rejoins the Lakers in his third NBA season to fill their 15th roster spot.
South Bay Lakers: The South Bay Lakers have re-acquired guard Kobe Bufkin. In a related moved, the team has waived guard James Reese.
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Shams Charania: The Los Angeles Lakers are signing guard Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract, sources tell ESPN. Bufkin has starred for the Lakers' South Bay NBA G League affiliate and spent some time with the Grizzlies this season.
Shams Charania: The Memphis Grizzlies plan to sign guard Kobe Bufkin via 10-day hardship exception, sources tell ESPN. Bufkin, the No. 15 pick in the 2023 draft, gets called up from the Lakers' South Bay G League team and enters his third NBA season.
Dave McMenamin: The South Bay Lakers plan to acquire former Atlanta Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin, sources told ESPN. Bufkin was the No. 15 pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Michigan. Bufkin was traded from ATL to BKN and entered the G League pool after being waived last month.
Nets Daily: As expected, Brooklyn Nets have exercised the 2026-27 team option on Noah Clowney’s rookie contract. He’ll make $5.4M, a $2M raise. Nets waived the two other 2023 draft picks eligible for extensions: Dariq Whitehead and Kobe Bufkin. Nets list Clowney as a “forward/center.”
