Coming off a 119–103 win over the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking solid even without their stars, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. It was a strong team performance overall, highlighted by LeBron James, who turned back the clock with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists while shooting 11/17 from the field. DeAndre Ayton also had a big night, finishing with 21 points and 5 rebounds on an efficient 9/11 shooting.
Now, the Lakers will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup against the Phoenix Suns. At the same time, the team has a key roster decision to make involving guard Kobe Bufkin, who signed a two-way deal in February. The Lakers are waiving Bufkin, opening up a roster spot as they evaluate new options over the weekend (h/t Shams Charania of ESPN).
This is a solid move for the Lakers, as it opens up more salary flexibility to possibly bring in someone who can better help in the backcourt, especially with both of their star guards out. In 16 games with the Lakers, Bufkin averaged 2.9 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists, while shooting 30.0% from the field and 19.2% from three-point range.
He was originally signed to add depth, shooting, and developmental upside to the roster, but it didn’t really go as planned, as he struggled to make an impact. In the win against the Warriors, he finished with just 2 points and 1 assist on 1/2 shooting.
Most of his growth has come in the G League, where he appeared in seven games for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 24.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 49.6% from the field and 43.1% from three.
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Bufkin was selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 NBA Draft. A 6-foot-4 combo guard out of Michigan, he was drafted for his scoring ability, athleticism, and defensive potential, but he hasn’t been able to translate that into consistent NBA production.
As of April 10, 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers are waiving him after he signed a two-year minimum contract on Feb. 8, 2026, which included a team option for the 2026-27 season and $844,607 guaranteed for the 2025-26 season.
Most of his success has come in the G League, suggesting he still needs time to develop. For the Lakers, this move creates flexibility to focus on players who can contribute now, while Bufkin may need a different situation to reach his potential.
