The Nets have waived guard Kobe Bufkin, the team announced today. Shams Charania of ESPN first reported the news (via Twitter).
Bufkin was traded from the Hawks to the Nets last month in exchange for $110K in cash considerations. He joined a roster loaded with guard competition after the team took Ben Saraf, Egor Demin, and Nolan Traore in the first round of the 2025 draft.
Bufkin, 22, has struggled with injuries throughout his NBA career and has appeared in just 27 total games in his first two NBA seasons. He averaged 5.0 points and 1.6 assists in 11.9 minutes per game during his time with the Hawks.
The former 15th overall pick struggled to carve out much of a role with Brooklyn during preseason, averaging just 10.9 minutes in his two outings and scoring 7.0 PPG on .364/.375/.600 shooting splits.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), because Bufkin’s $4,503,720 salary is fully guaranteed, the Nets will remain slightly above the minimum salary floor entering the season. Not reaching the floor would cause Brooklyn to lose its luxury tax distribution, which is projected to be around $12.8MM, Marks adds (Twitter link).
The move will also get Brooklyn’s roster within the regular season limits — the team now has 15 players on standard contracts and a pair on two-way deals.
Bufkin will become an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers on Tuesday.
Told you all. Now waive Highsmith, Etienne and Liddell
Keep Wilson, Martin and resign Keon Johnson and sign a veteran to babysit. Nelson on a two way
Bad trade Brooklyn
They paid $110K to acquire a $4.5M player whom they waived a month later, and they acquired no assets in the process.
Meanwhile they lowballed their RFA Cam Thomas all summer and now they can’t trade him without his approval.
Their offseason is inexplicable.
I’m a bit surprised at this, but they wanted to ensure they stayed above the floor. I guess Wilson and Martin outplayed him.
Well, this is a bad reason if so. Bufkin has a much higher ceiling than Jalen Wilson… not to mention that they now have to pay Bufkin $4M+.. 🤦♂️