It has been nearly a month since the Los Angeles Lakers handed Kobe Bufkin a two-year deal to take up the 15th spot on the roster, removing themselves from the buyout market in the process. Despite all the time elapsed, many are still questioning why.
In all fairness, this is around the time when the last few guys would have been released before the Mar. 1 deadline to retain eligibility for a playoff roster. Perhaps that calendar date has reignited curiosity about why the Lakers decided to punt on the buyout market.
The thing is, JJ Redick already explained perfectly why Los Angeles opted for their own in-house talent over an external addition. There were some solid players available via buyout. Ultimately, it was a lackluster year overall for the market, though. Amid that, the Lakers prioritized the future.
Redick said, "The buyout market very rarely produces a player that impacts a team's playoff chances. ... Kobe has certainly earned a spot in the NBA with the way he's played this year for us at South Bay. There's also the factor of, are we gonna lose him?"
Lakers avoided repeating a past mistake that has haunted them on multiple occassions
To Redick's first point with relation to Bufkin, the young Lakers guard was tearing it up with South Bay before getting elevated. The former first round pick was averaging 27.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.
To Redick's second point on Bufkin, the Lakers did not want to gamble on another team coming in and swooping him up. That has happened previously and Los Angeles has suffered for it in the process.
Scottie Pippen Jr. was similarly dominant during his time down in the G League when he was with the South Bay Lakers. Pippen would go on to emerge as a solid backup point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies after being pried away.
Jay Huff is another South Bay alumni. Huff has started 37 games for the Indiana Pacers in 2025-26, establishing himself as a solid contributor in a frontcourt rotation. His ability to block shots and space the floor would be quite desirable among the current Lakers roster.
South Bay was also one of the final stops in the G League for Gary Payton II before carving out a permanent spot in the NBA. The point here should be clear.
If there was a belief in Los Angeles that leaving Bufkin for another team's taking could have seriously backfired, they did not want to take that risk. They ensured his future with the franchise was secured, and they held the cards on what to do next. The 15th guy on the roster rarely aids any playoff push in a meaningful way. However, this year's 15th guy could be tomorrow's eighth or ninth man.