Nets add Kobe Bufkin to guard rotation, citing need for ball-handling depth
Brooklyn acquires former first-round pick to pair with a developing backcourt as it rebuilds around young guards and future options
The Brooklyn Nets have added Kobe Bufkin to a guard rotation that already features a cluster of young players, a move the team described as strengthening its ball-handling options for a developing backcourt. The acquisition comes after Brooklyn drafted three point guards in the first round this past June, and it adds a player who once held first-round promise but had slipped to the Hawks two years ago.
Bufkin was a first-round pick (No. 15) by Atlanta in the 2023 draft, six spots ahead of Brooklyn’s selection that year. He appeared in 27 games over two seasons for Atlanta, with a shoulder injury ending his 2023-24 campaign in December. In summer league play this year, Bufkin posted 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, showing the versatility Brooklyn sought. The Nets reportedly pursued Bufkin amid interest from Indiana, but ultimately acted to add him for cash, a move they viewed as a low-risk, high-upside bet for a team in rebuilding mode.
“Obviously we don’t think you ever have enough ball handlers, right? Making plays for others is always important,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said, explaining the rationale behind the trade. He noted that Bufkin would join a point-guard platoon that already includes rookies Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf, a grouping the team believes can grow together as Brooklyn angles toward competitive years ahead. Fernández added that Bufkin’s familiarity with the system and his ability to distribute could help accelerate the Nets’ offense as they continue to develop their young core. He also pointed to the team’s scouting process and the history with Bufkin as factors in the decision.
Bufkin’s relationship with Juwan Howard, who coached him at Michigan, played a notable role in the acquisition. Howard’s presence in Brooklyn’s building is described by Bufkin as a source of comfort and mentorship. “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.” Brooklyn’s front office weighed that familiarity alongside its own evaluation and the team’s strategic direction as they decided to bring Bufkin aboard. Fernández said the Nets were “very high on him during the draft,” and that the decision was the product of multiple factors linking staff evaluation and personal connections.
From a financial perspective, Bufkin’s contract adds another layer to Brooklyn’s approach to its cap picture. The guard’s $4.5 million cap hit this season is modest for a player with starting-guard potential, and his 2026-27 team option at $6.9 million looms large for a franchise still in the early stages of its rebuild. Analysts noted that Brooklyn could absorb Bufkin’s year-to-year cost and then decide how to handle the option, effectively treating the deal as a low-risk investment with upside if Bufkin progresses as expected. As Sam Vecenie of The Athletic put it on a team-specific podcast, taking on Bufkin’s $4.5 million this year and exercising the $6.9 million option next year could be a thoughtful bet for a franchise that values developmental potential.
Bufkin will join a Nets group that is still completing its own rehab, with several backcourt pieces in flux. Drake Powell is trending back from knee tendinopathy and is expected to return to practice with some non-contact work already completed, Fernández said. Egor Dëmin is working through a plantar fascia tear, and while his return timeline remains contingent on progress, the team has emphasized careful management to avoid lingering issues. The Nets have stressed patience with their young players, aiming to blend health, development and competition in a way that complements Bufkin’s addition.
The broader Brooklyn organization has echoed a longer-term commitment to the area as a home for basketball development. BSE Global, the Nets’ parent company, opened the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, underscoring the franchise’s emphasis on growth and belonging in the borough. Chief executive Sam Zussman framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to connect with fans and develop young talent, aligning with the team’s ongoing rebuild around a core of developing players.
Looking ahead, Bufkin’s arrival is positioned as a strategic bet on guard depth, versatility and future upside. The Nets have repeatedly signaled that they intend to build from within, leveraging a mix of young players, assets and cap flexibility. If Bufkin adapts quickly to Brooklyn’s system and demonstrates the playmaking and defense the front office valued in scouting reports, he could emerge as a key piece in the team’s ongoing plan to accelerate competitiveness while continuing to develop its homegrown talent. As the season progresses, Brooklyn will gauge Bufkin’s fit with Dëmin, Traore and Saraf, and how the group handles extended minutes and responsibilities in a competitive environment. 