September 16: The trade is official, according to announcements from both teams. The Nets waived big man David Muoka in order to open up a spot on the 21-man roster for Bufkin.
September 15: The Hawks and Nets have agreed to a trade that will send former first-round pick Kobe Bufkin from Atlanta to Brooklyn in exchange for cash considerations, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The Hawks will acquire $110K in cash, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
The 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Bufkin has battled injuries since entering the NBA. He missed a significant chunk of his rookie year due to a fractured left thumb and a sprained toe, then underwent season-ending shoulder surgery into December 2024, less than two months into his second season.
In total, the 6’4″ guard made just 27 appearances for the Hawks, averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 11.9 minutes per night, with a .374/.220/.654 shooting line. Bufkin – who will turn 22 on Sunday – has more upside than he’s been able to show so far, so the Nets will take a chance on him in the hopes that he’ll have better health luck going forward.
Brooklyn has more than enough cap room to take on Bufkin’s $4.5MM salary for this season, which will push the team over the minimum salary floor, at least for now. His rookie scale contract also includes a $6.9MM team option for 2026/27 — the Nets will have to make a decision on that option by October 31.
While the Nets are in a good position to roll the dice on Bufkin from a salary cap perspective, adding him to the mix will exacerbate a looming roster crunch. Once the deal is official, Brooklyn will be carrying 15 players on guaranteed salaries and four on partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed salaries. The team also intends to add Ricky Council IV to the latter group. A number of those players will have to be waived or traded in order for the Nets to set their 15-man regular season roster next month.
Brooklyn still has roughly $11.6MM in cap room for now, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, though the club could increase that figure by waiving some of those players with non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts. The Nets would be in danger of falling back below the minimum salary floor in that scenario and will want to make sure they’re above that threshold by opening night.
The Hawks, meanwhile, will generate a $4.5MM trade exception as a result of the deal, generating a little extra financial flexibility below the luxury tax line and opening up another roster spot for one of their camp invitees to compete for.
With Bufkin no longer in the mix, Atlanta will have just 10 players on fully guaranteed salaries, plus Vit Krejci and N’Faly Dante on partial guarantees, Mouhamed Gueye on a non-guaranteed contract, and Caleb Houstan, Charles Bassey, and Kobe Johnson on Exhibit 10 deals.
Good now let Houston go, Vit can play those minutes. Keep everyone else.
Sign a young PG prospect to develop and a veteran (30+) PG to help Trae when he is out
Hawks now have 13 on the roster so this increases the chances of Vit and Caleb both getting full guarantees.
Let Johnson go too
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
So, I guess the Nets aren’t picking up any more picks with this one. I guess it’s understandable because the Nets need to reach the floor.
They’re taking a flier on a former 1st rounder
Yup, Bufkin effectively is a pick as far as the Nets are concerned.
Vit should be a obvious guarantee. I just think Caleb doesn’t fit the team. He is redundant. They have two good young players at SG and SF already
They need PG help bad
Caleb is fine as a 3rd string on a team that needs as much shooting as it can get. He’s an 11th-12th man. Essentially replacing Garrison Mathews on the roster.
You already have Risacher, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nikola Djurisic who are 21-23 years of age who can play SF spot and some SG. Why add Houston who isn’t a good shooter, who is not from this team, not good enough for his old team to pick him up. Vit can play his minutes. Why add another young player add a position who cannot shoot well. He is redundant. That’s what that means. This team would be better off with Garrison Matthews back honestly. They don’t need another 23 year old SG/SF, they need a PG. Daniels is 22 is a far better SG prospect. Having many young players at one position isn’t always good
Yes you are right he is fine as a 3rd string guy but he doesn’t fit this team but should be in the NBA
Jalen Johnson doesn’t play the 3. He plays the 4. Few other Hawks can.
Nikola Djurisic shot 40% in 24 G-League games (18% from three) but go off
“Jalen Johnson doesn’t play the 3. He plays the 4. Few other Hawks can”
Jalen can play the 3.
In fact, many think that will happen more if they go big. Porzingis+Okongwu+Jalen.
Porzingis, Okongwu, Nftaly, Gueye and Asa Newll can also play 4.
Jalen CAN play the 3 (IF there is shooting at the 4/5), but he wasn’t asked to at all this past season, because PFs are much harder to find in the NBA.
They don’t have enough front court shooting (only Porzingis) to field enough spacing to go big with JJ at the 3. So he isn’t going to actually log time there.
Hawks Depth (13 + 2 Exhibit10)
PG: Trae Young, Luke Kennard
SG: Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nikola Djurisic
SF: Zaccharie Risacher, Vit Krecji, Caleb Houstan
PF: Jalen Johnson, Mo Gueye, Asa Newell
C: Kristaps Porzingis, Onyeka Okongwu, N’Faly Dante, Charles Bassey
Houstan is an end of bench guy, and that is needed at what is clearly the Hawks least talented position.
There is a world where Keaton Wallace makes the team over him (converted from a 2-Way), and it’s worth noting that Houstan himself is still 2-Way eligible (and can be converted there from an E10 if I’m not mistaken).
Okongwu is a PF (6’8 on a good day). Luke Kennard is definitely a SG not a PG. Yes Jalen Johnson can play SF. I’m not sure where you are getting your info. Djurisic plays mostly SF. Sure they can promote Wallace (is he good enough?) Move Luke Kennard to SG and see there is a glaring hole at PG. No Houston is not two way worthy because of more than three years of NBA experience….. Bro please stop lol
Luke Kennard a PG come on smh
This is what I would do
PG. Trae,Walker-Alexander,Keaton Wallace
SG. Dyson Daniels, Luke Kennard,Djurisic
SF. Jalen Johnson, Risacher(6th man),Vit
PF. Onyeka Okongwu, Asa, Gueye
C . Porzingas, N’Faly, Bassey
With players switching roles on different matchups
Risacher is still young and I would give the green light to fire off the bench. Trust me he will improve. Just one year on the bench this year for a deep playoff run
I appreciate and like your depth board. You are far ahead of alot or people on this site
I’m sorry about the Luke Kennard comment above. My bad on being negative
In what world is Luke Kennard a PG?
Luke Kennard began bringing the ball up more last year.
His assist rate is actually high for a SG.
I think they are planning on playing him some PG. Not saying i agree.
Everyone brings the ball up now though. EVERYONE
Remember when IT was running next to Jokic confused like pass the PG the ball running up court
Pure PG’s and all PF’s have been taken out of the NBA
Curry, LeBron and Jokic made this era ….
So overrated. Bring the hand check rule back and these guys would be role players
Luke Kennard would never EVEEEEEEER be doing any PG duties in any other era EVER because this era is ….
Hawks can use a backup PG. Better veteran options available than Bufkin.
Presuming Westbrook isn’t an option:
Cam Payne
Delon Wright
Markelle Fultz
Cory Joseph
Dalano Banton
I think Payne makes the most sense as a pure backup to Trae. The others are just worse versions of what Nickeil Alexander-Walker will give them.
Miami or Milwaukee please sign Fultz. Best fit for minutes and hopefully a future
I’m guessing the Nets figure Juwan Howard can reach his talent since he coached him in Michigan.
Kobe has been hurt since he came into L. This is a good gamble for Nets. See what you got ….
Let Houston go and keep everyone else
Jazion Gortmen or Hood-Schfino for a young PG and Elfrid Payton, someone said Cam Payne and Russell Westbrook for veterans which are decent ideas
Pick one from each
Gortmen or Hood-Schfino
Payne or Payton or Westbrook
ATL just needs a backup PG and prospect
Waive Cody Johnson too*
Trade a Danny Wolf package to the Knicks for a Mitchell Robinson package.