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.

Before even getting into what makes Bufkin worthy of being a full-time NBA player — and how he is likely outside the regular rotation for the remainder of this season — the Lakers’ other opportunities for their final roster spot needs to be addressed. 

Because most times a roster or personnel move is made, there are, naturally, statements that fit into the “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” narrative. 

Yes, the Lakers could’ve tried to sign someone off the buyout/midseason free agency market. 

Cam Thomas, who’s since signed with the Bucks after being waived by the Nets, and Haywood Highsmith, who like Thomas was also waived by the Nets last week, were popular names tied to the Lakers.

But individually, both players either didn’t fit or came with their own risks. 

For as talented as Thomas is, and his skillset is evident in the 21.4 points he’s averaged over the last three seasons, did the Lakers need a score-first, smaller guard who’s a liability on the defensive end of the floor? And unlike Bufkin, the team signing Thomas (the Bucks in this case) would either need to have or open up a spot in the rotation so Thomas could receive regular playing time. With Austin Reaves back in the lineup and the trade for Luke Kennard, the Lakers simply don’t have a need for what Thomas brings. 

Highsmith would’ve been a tantalizing option, with the 6-foot-5 forward having a skillset (high-level perimeter defense, 38.8% shooting on 3-pointers the last two seasons) and motor the Lakers lack. But Highsmith has yet to play this season after having surgery in early August to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee — a procedure that was originally supposed to sideline him for eight-to-10 weeks. 

The critiques about the Lakers’ options besides signing Bufkin highlight a bigger point: the buyout/midseason free agency market rarely provides players who’ll have a positive impact on a team’s chances of making noise in the playoffs, let alone contend for the championship.

The team’s last two signings off the buyout market — Spencer Dinwiddie in 2024 and Alex Len last year —  are usually how those types of midseason additions impact a team compared to Markieff Morris’ run with the 2020 Lakers that won the NBA title. 

In Bufkin, the Lakers are getting a 22-year-old guard who they had interest in drafting in 2023 before he was taken by the Hawks, two spots ahead of the Lakers using the No. 17 pick to select Jalen Hood-Schifino. 

As the No. 15 pick in 2023, Bufkin not only has the pedigree but also the size (6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan) to be successful in the NBA. Success in the G League doesn’t translate to success in the NBA, but the way Bufkin played for the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s also shown he’s willing to step up his play defensively. 

The Lakers have seen multiple younger or lesser-experienced players they’ve invested in have positive impacts on their next team after the Lakers decided not to see that investment through — with Jordan Goodwin being the latest example after they waived him over the summer to become salary cap compliant before signing Marcus Smart. 

By signing Bufkin, the Lakers give themselves an opportunity to see what they can get out of their investment on a talented, young and inexpensive player — an especially important factor in the modern NBA with how punitive the salary cap aprons are for team building.