Lakers Sign Kobe Bufkin, Prioritize Development Over Buyout Market Splash
LOS ANGELES - With the NBA trade deadline in the rearview and the Lakers' roster still needing that final touch, the team made a move that speaks volumes about their current strategy - and it wasn’t a flashy veteran buyout signing. Instead, they turned inward, rewarding G League standout Kobe Bufkin with a standard NBA contract.
Bufkin, who’s been turning heads with South Bay, had already spent a brief stint with the Lakers on a 10-day contract. But this time, the deal is more than just a cup of coffee.
The Lakers locked him in before another team could pounce - and make no mistake, there was interest. Memphis had already given Bufkin a 10-day look back in November, and his recent G League play made him a hot name among scouts and execs keeping tabs on late-season additions.
Head coach JJ Redick made it clear ahead of the Lakers’ matchup with the Thunder: this wasn’t just about filling a seat at the end of the bench. It was a calculated decision rooted in familiarity, development, and long-term potential.
“Kobe certainly earned a spot in the NBA with the way he’s played this year for us in South Bay,” Redick said. “There’s also the factors of are we going to be able to keep him in our program.
So there’s a lot that went into it. We feel really happy that we got him on a roster spot.”
Redick’s comments also shed light on why the Lakers didn’t chase a name off the buyout market - a route many fans expected. He didn’t mince words when explaining why that path isn’t always as fruitful as it’s made out to be.
“I’ll just be frank - I know this because I did this when I was working in media,” Redick said. “It very rarely produces a player that impacts a team’s playoff chances.
It just very rarely does. You got to make sure that guy is healthy, that guy is ready to play.”
That’s a refreshingly honest take from a coach who’s seen both sides of the media and locker room. The buyout market often gets hyped as a chance to land a difference-maker, but Redick’s point is clear: more often than not, it’s fool’s gold.
Instead, the Lakers are leaning into a player they’ve developed in-house - someone who knows the system, has built chemistry with the staff, and has shown tangible growth. Bufkin’s defensive development has been a particular point of emphasis, and Redick gave credit to South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie for challenging the young guard to step up on that end.
“The thing that Zach has really challenged him on this year and that he’s gotten better on is just his defensive activity and engagement,” Redick said. “I think he’s got the positional size to be a plus defender. And obviously his ability to shoot the ball consistently, particularly on our team, would provide great value.”
For now, the Lakers’ roster appears locked in. All three two-way spots are filled, and there’s no indication the team plans to waive a guaranteed contract just to open another slot. That puts Bufkin in a unique position: a young player with upside, earning a real opportunity down the stretch of a season where every possession matters.
It’s a bet on internal growth over external quick fixes - and for a team walking the tightrope between playoff positioning and long-term sustainability, it might just be the smarter play.