Lakers Bet on Youth Over Veteran Help in Buyout Market - Will It Pay Off?
With the trade deadline in the rearview and the buyout market heating up, the Los Angeles Lakers have made their move - and it’s a calculated one. Instead of chasing veteran help or adding a proven playoff contributor, the Lakers used their final roster spot to sign guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal. It’s a decision that signals a clear direction from the front office and head coach JJ Redick: development and fit over short-term star power.
Redick didn’t mince words when asked about the team’s stance on the buyout market.
“The buyout market. I’ll just be frank... it very rarely produces a player that impacts a team’s playoff chances,” Redick said.
It’s a fair point. The buyout market has long been a mixed bag - sometimes you land a difference-maker, but more often than not, it’s a name that doesn’t move the needle come playoff time. That said, the Lakers’ choice to commit to Bufkin does raise some eyebrows, especially considering the names that could still become available.
Bufkin’s Upside vs. Immediate Need
Kobe Bufkin isn’t a stranger to the Lakers’ system. He’s spent time with the South Bay Lakers and has shown flashes of real scoring punch in the G League, averaging 27.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Those are eye-popping numbers, no doubt. But translating G League dominance to meaningful NBA minutes is a different story.
In limited NBA action, Bufkin has averaged just 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game - not exactly rotation-ready numbers. It’s possible he hasn’t had the opportunity to show what he can do at the next level, but with the Lakers sitting in the thick of a playoff chase, every roster spot matters.
That’s where the conversation shifts to what could’ve been.
The Khris Middleton What-If
One name that looms large in this discussion is Khris Middleton. The veteran forward, recently traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to Washington, is reportedly a candidate for a buyout. If that happens, the Lakers may have missed a real opportunity.
Middleton’s numbers this season - 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists - don’t jump off the page, but context matters. He’s still a respected shot-maker with championship pedigree and a proven track record in big moments. His career averages - 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists on 45.9% shooting and 38.5% from deep - tell a clearer story of a player who could’ve helped address the Lakers’ ongoing perimeter shooting struggles.
Pairing Middleton’s floor-spacing and veteran savvy alongside LeBron James and a healthy D’Angelo Russell could’ve given the Lakers another weapon in tight playoff games. Instead, they’re banking on Bufkin’s upside.
Missed Opportunities and a Tight Window
The Lakers’ decision to stand pat after acquiring Luke Kennard from Atlanta before the deadline has left some fans wondering if the front office did enough. Kennard brings shooting, sure, but the Lakers also watched Cam Thomas sign with Milwaukee and Jeremy Sochan land with the Knicks - two players who could’ve bolstered the bench.
And it’s not just about who’s already gone. Players like Cole Anthony, Marvin Bagley III, and other seasoned veterans could still hit the market in the coming weeks. But with their final roster spot now filled, the Lakers have effectively closed the door on any of those options - unless they make a cut, which seems unlikely.
A Gamble with 28 Games to Go
The Lakers have 28 games left in the regular season, and the margin for error is razor-thin. They’re betting that internal growth, chemistry, and the emergence of young talent like Bufkin will be enough to carry them through the stretch run and into the postseason.
It’s a bold move - one that prioritizes continuity and development over a short-term splash. But in a Western Conference where the margins between contenders and pretenders are slim, the Lakers may find themselves second-guessing the decision if the roster doesn’t hold up under playoff pressure.
For now, the message is clear: the Lakers believe in the group they’ve assembled. Whether that belief turns into a deep playoff run or a missed opportunity will be written over the next two months.