Lakers Sign Kobe Bufkin to Two-Year Deal, Add Scoring Guard After Trade Deadline

LOS ANGELES — With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror and the playoff race tightening, the Lakers turned their attention to roster depth. The team used its final open roster spot to sign guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Bufkin is not entirely new to the organization. He previously spent time with the Lakers on a 10-day deal earlier this season before returning to the G League when that stint expired. After several weeks of strong performances with the South Bay Lakers, he now returns with a longer-term opportunity.

The move gives Los Angeles another option in the backcourt as it navigates the stretch run before the All-Star break. While veteran additions often dominate headlines, the Lakers are betting that Bufkin’s upside and scoring instincts can provide value off the bench.

It also reflects a broader strategy: surround the core with guards who can space the floor, create their own offense and provide flexibility across multiple lineups.

1. From 10-Day Tryout to Roster Spot

Bufkin’s path back to the Lakers wasn’t guaranteed. During his initial 10-day contract, he appeared in four games and averaged just over 11 minutes per night, posting modest numbers while adjusting to the speed of the NBA level. He averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds during that stretch, shooting 36.4 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range. The sample size was small, but the team opted not to immediately extend another short-term deal. Instead, Bufkin returned to South Bay, where he had begun the season. The decision allowed him to play extended minutes and sharpen his offensive game rather than fight for sporadic minutes at the end of the Lakers’ bench. That development period appears to have paid off. His production in the G League quickly reignited interest and ultimately earned him another chance with the parent club.

2. A Different Skill Set in the Backcourt

The signing also diversifies Los Angeles’ guard rotation. Recently acquired Luke Kennard provides elite perimeter shooting and secondary playmaking, operating primarily as a floor spacer who thrives off movement and quick decisions. Bufkin, by contrast, leans more toward shot creation. He’s comfortable attacking defenders off the dribble, generating offense in isolation and scoring in bursts when the second unit needs a spark. That contrast gives the coaching staff lineup flexibility. Depending on the matchup, the Lakers can deploy Kennard’s shooting gravity or Bufkin’s downhill aggression to complement their primary stars. For a team that has sometimes struggled to create offense outside its top options, having multiple stylistic choices in the backcourt could prove useful over the final months of the season.

3. G League Surge Signals Potential

Bufkin’s case was built largely on what he did with South Bay. In 21 G League games, he averaged 26.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals in just over 33 minutes per game, numbers that ranked among the league’s most productive guards. His efficiency stood out as well. He shot 51.5 percent from the field, 43.1 percent from beyond the arc and nearly 90 percent at the free-throw line, showcasing a more complete offensive profile than he displayed in his earlier NBA stint. A former No. 15 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 draft, Bufkin has already experienced several stops, including time with Brooklyn before landing in the Lakers’ system. At 21, he still carries the appeal of untapped upside. With Los Angeles in the middle of a five-game homestand and sitting at 32-19, tied for the No. 4/5 spot in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are hoping Bufkin’s scoring punch can provide timely depth as they push toward the postseason.