Nets Add Kobe Bufkin, Emphasizing Ball-Handling Depth in Youth-Oriented Rebuild
Brooklyn signs guard Kobe Bufkin, citing need for playmakers as part of a guard platoon with several first-year players.
The Brooklyn Nets have added guard Kobe Bufkin, signing him to bolster a point-guard group that is already anchored by a mix of rookies and developmental pieces. Bufkin’s arrival comes after Brooklyn drafted three first-round guards in June and represents a calculated bet on a player who was once a lottery status pick before a dip in his NBA playing time. Bufkin, who was selected 15th overall by Atlanta in the 2023 draft, appeared in 27 games over two seasons with the Hawks before shoulder surgery ended his campaign in December. He starred in summer league play, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, signaling the upside that Brooklyn believes it can unlock.
I don’t think you ever have enough ball handlers, right? Making plays for others is always important, especially when you’re trying to cultivate a productive, multi-guard rotation, head coach Jordi Fernández said of Bufkin’s fit with Brooklyn’s regrouping unit. The Nets see Bufkin as a complementary piece to a guard platoon that already includes rookies Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf, a group built to grow together as Brooklyn pivots toward long-term development rather than a quick, win-now overhaul.
Bufkin’s path to Brooklyn is shaped by a mix of familiarity and opportunity. He played for Michigan under Juwan Howard, and Howard’s subsequent presence in Brooklyn reportedly helped smooth the transition. “Obviously [Howard] knows the guy, and everything was very positive between Juwan, who knows him and speaks highly and positively about him,” Fernández said. Bufkin added that the connection with Howard has been a source of comfort since arriving in Brooklyn. “It’s definitely a big level of comfort. [Howard] is like family,” Bufkin said. “I spent two years with him. He was a mentor for me, kind of taught me about the league before I got to the league, what to expect, what not to expect. So it was good to see him.”
The Nets’ pursuit of Bufkin was influenced by Indiana’s demonstrated willingness to develop guards, but Brooklyn ultimately acquired Bufkin for cash in a move that aligns with a long-term rebuilding plan rather than a short-term swing. The decision comes as Brooklyn weighs the 2026-27 option on Bufkin, which carries a roughly $6.9 million price tag if exercised, a detail that has drawn external analysis. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie called the deal a “home run for the Nets,” noting that Brooklyn could absorb Bufkin’s $4.5 million cap hit this season and then evaluate the team option next year to see what the future holds.
Bufkin’s standing with Brooklyn is not just about a single season. The Nets are constructing a framework around young, versatile guards who can create for others and stretch defenses. Fernández indicated that Bufkin’s presence provides depth for a roster that remains in flux as Brooklyn assesses its longer-term model and potential development trajectories for its young guards. “This is a home run for the Nets,” Vecenie said on the ‘Game Theory’ podcast, reflecting the strategic upside of a low-cost investment in a guard with notable college pedigree and summer-league production.
Bufkin’s addition comes as Brooklyn continues to develop facilities and community ties that anchor the team in Brooklyn itself. BSE Global, the Nets’ parent company, opened the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, underscoring the franchise’s commitment to local growth and fan engagement. “We’re a resident of Brooklyn. On the Brooklyn Nets side, the borough’s name is on our jersey,” BSE Global CEO Sam Zussman said. The organization emphasizes a sense of belonging to the borough and a responsibility to cultivate young talent and a vibrant fan base in the process.
The trade and Bufkin’s arrival also reflect a broader strategy to balance immediate playmaking needs with long-term growth. Brooklyn’s guard room now features a blend of youth and potential, with Bufkin’s contract potentially stabilizing the rotation for the next two seasons while the organization evaluates Dëmin, Traore, and Saraf, each of whom is still early in the development curve. The Nets will also rely on the continued progression of Drake Powell, who is progressing back from a knee tendinopathy, with Fernández noting Powell’s non-contact work has progressed to contact activity and that a return should come sooner rather than later. The roster updates come amid the Nets’ broader rebuilding effort, which places emphasis on internal development, player versatility and the cultivation of a cohesive, homegrown core around which Brooklyn can anchor its competitive trajectory.
In the coming weeks, Brooklyn will have opportunities to integrate Bufkin into practice and pre-season schedules, evaluate how his ball-handling ability complements the existing guard core, and gauge how he can contribute to the team’s ball movement and spacing without sacrificing defense and pace. The Nets’ approach remains oriented toward sustainable development and value creation rather than quick-fix remedies, a stance reinforced by the organization’s emphasis on tying its on-court project to a stable, Brooklyn-centered identity.
Image: Kobe Bufkin in summer league