Lakers predicted to cut ties with controversial $7.9 million former second-round pick in offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers completed an early Sunday signing that many likely missed.
Advertisement
The 17-time NBA champions signed a 6-foot-4 guard who’s been electric with Los Angeles’ G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts believes that the addition of Bufkin ‘all but guarantees’ that the Lakers will cut ties with a controversial 6-foot-2 former second-round pick when the offseason arrives.
“Kobe Bufkin’s signing all but guarantees Bronny James departure in the offseason,” Watts wrote Sunday.
“Bufkin’s two-year contract features a team option, so the Lakers can quickly move on. The 6-foot-4 guard has his shot to prove he belongs for the rest of this season, but his play doesn’t impact Bronny.”
Advertisement
“Los Angeles is comfortable signing a guard off the street and playing him over the younger James. They have done it twice this season, and Bronny has given the Lakers no reason to think otherwise.”
James was surrounded by controversy entering the 2024-25 season. The USC product wasn’t impressive during his lone season with the Trojans. Still, the Lakers selected him with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft (James made history with his father, LeBron, on opening night, as the two became the first father-son duo to share the floor in the big leagues).
So far, James has been ineffective in a Los Angeles uniform, averaging 2.1 points and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 34.5% from the field and 32.1% from long range in 54 contests.
If the Lakers elect to move on from James this summer, the 21-year-old shouldn’t be the least bit surprised. Starting with two consecutive unproductive seasons isn’t going to convince a contending franchise like the Lakers to keep him around for the long haul.
Advertisement
Lackluster playmaking and perimeter shooting chops will lead to James’ demise in Los Angeles if he doesn’t quickly flip the script.
More NBA: Warriors officially cut ties with Stephen Curry’s 6-foot-4 splash brother via trade to Hawks