Nets acquire Kobe Bufkin to bolster guard depth and playmaking

The Brooklyn Nets acquired guard Kobe Bufkin in a move to bolster a guard platoon that already includes rookies Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf. The decision comes after Brooklyn drafted three point guards in June and adds a former first‑round pick who had been on the Nets’ radar in 2023. Bufkin went No. 15 that year to Atlanta, six spots ahead of Brooklyn’s pick Noah Clowney. He appeared in 27 games for the Hawks over two seasons before a December shoulder injury ended his season. In summer league, Bufkin posted averages of 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Nets coach Jordi Fernández tied the move to the team’s belief in multiple ball handlers: I don’t think you ever have enough ball handlers, right? Making plays for others is always important.

Bufkin’s relationship with former Michigan coach Juwan Howard helped the Nets pull the trigger. Howard mentored Bufkin for two seasons in college and remains a trusted voice in evaluating him. Brooklyn’s front office and scouting staff were familiar with Bufkin, and the decision to land him with cash considerations followed reported interest from Indiana, a club known for developing guards. Bufkin, who has already begun building chemistry with Brooklyn, said Howard’s presence has helped him ease into the NBA environment. It’s definitely a big level of comfort. [Howard] is like family. I spent two years with him. He was a mentor for me, kind of teaching me what to expect in the league. So it was good to see him.

From a basketball‑operations view, Bufkin’s arrival fills a need for a reliable ball handler who can create for others as Brooklyn seeks a dynamic guard rotation. The Nets are betting that Bufkin’s combination of playmaking, scoring ability and familiarity with Howard can translate into a productive plug‑and‑play option behind and alongside a youthful, growing backcourt that includes Dëmin, Traore and Saraf. The contractual framework underscores a calculated risk: Bufkin carries a $4.5 million salary this season, with a $6.9 million option for 2026‑27, a decision that could shape Brooklyn’s cost structure in the near term. The reaction from analysts was favorable; Sam Vecenie of The Athletic called the move a potential “home run” for the Nets, noting the appeal of locking in Bufkin’s cost under a favorable early‑career timeline.

Fernández provided additional color on the broader health picture as the team builds toward the season. He said Drake Powell is ahead of Egor Dëmin in returning from tendinopathy, with Powell practicing in non‑contact drills and moving toward contact. Dëmin, dealing with a plantar fascia tear, is expected to progress in a careful, stepwise program. Both players are being managed to avoid lingering issues, and Fernández said they’re following a deliberate path to regain game readiness.

The Nets have also emphasized their Brooklyn roots beyond the court. BSE Global, the parent company of the Nets and Liberty, has opened the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, underscoring the organization’s commitment to the borough and its fans as part of a broader development strategy. “We’re a resident of Brooklyn. On the Brooklyn Nets side, the borough’s name is on our jersey,” said BSE Global CEO Sam Zussman. The move is part of a broader push to cultivate local ties and sustain a pipeline of talent through a dedicated facility.

Alongside the Bufkin acquisition, Brooklyn’s front office and coaching staff will continue evaluating how the guard platoon alongside Bufkin can mesh with the team’s young core. The Nets’ rebuild hinges on developing internal players and extracting value from offseason acquisitions, while maintaining flexibility in cap planning and future asset allocation. As Bufkin joins a roster built around youth and potential, the team will monitor how quickly he can translate his summer‑league success into regular‑season linearity, and how the guard group evolves around him in practices and preseason games.