INTERNAL PROMOTION: DISCOVER WHY THE LAKERS CHOSE KOBE BUFKIN OVER BUYOUT VETERANS
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal, choosing the 26.7 PPG G League star over veteran buyout candidates.
After the Lakers grabbed Luke Kennard at the trade deadline, everyone started wondering what they'd do next. The buyout market was about to open up, and big names like Mike Conley Jr, Lonzo Ball, Haywood Highsmith, and Cam Thomas were already floating around as options.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka didn’t keep anyone guessing for long. “We have an open roster spot, and we’re talking to some available players, just doing our homework,” he told reporters after the deadline. “Players could come in through the buyout market. We’re looking at that 15th roster spot and probably will fill it at some point.”
But when Pelinka finally filled that last spot, he surprised a lot of people. Instead of waiting for a buyout candidate, the Lakers decided to reward a guy from within—G League standout Kobe Bufkin. They signed him to a two-year NBA contract.
Honestly, Bufkin earned it. With the South Bay Lakers, he put up some wild numbers: 26.7 points, 4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and just under a block per game. He shot over 51% from the field and hit 43% of his threes. And lately, he’s been on fire—dropping 36, 41, and 29 points in his last three games, draining 18 threes, handing out 16 assists, and grabbing seven steals.
All season, people around the league have called him one of the most NBA-ready guards in the G League.
Bufkin first joined the Lakers on a 10-day contract in January. When that ran out, they didn’t offer him a second stint, which could’ve kept him around through the trade deadline. Instead, they sent him back to South Bay and took a bit of a risk. Because his contract wasn’t locked down, any NBA team could’ve signed him away—standard, two-way, 10-day, whatever. The Lakers had already seen Memphis snatch up Scotty Pippen Jr after his time in L.A., so they knew how fast G League talent can disappear.
With interest picking up around the league, Pelinka decided not to wait. He wanted to keep Bufkin, so he made the move.
The Lakers had other options. They could’ve juggled their two-way contracts, maybe waived Chris Mannon, and kept the 15th spot open for a buyout player. Drew Timme and Nick Smith Jr had already played plenty on two-way deals, and league rules gave the Lakers some wiggle room. Teams with fewer than 15 players on standard deals can use two-way players for up to 90 games combined (instead of just 50 each). According to Spotrac, Timme and Smith Jr had only played in 49 games together, so the Lakers could’ve kept Bufkin on a two-way if they wanted.
But honestly, that 15th spot wasn’t going to stay open. By giving Bufkin a standard contract, the Lakers made sure he could play the rest of the season and didn’t risk losing him.
Looking at the buyout market, the choice got even clearer. Cam Thomas went to the Bucks. Lonzo Ball’s still a question mark—teams want a look at his medicals before doing anything. Haywood Highsmith hasn’t played all season because of injury.
So, betting on Bufkin? It just made sense. G League numbers don’t always mean NBA success, but Bufkin’s outgrown South Bay. He’s earned a real shot, and the Lakers decided to invest in someone who could actually grow into a rotation player, instead of gambling on a rental. They went with the guy they know, and honestly, it looks like the right call.
TY SIMPSON OFFICIALLY ENTERS QB1 CONVERSATION FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT AFTER BAMA RUN
Ty Simpson challenges Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza for QB1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout Bama season.
After waiting behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson’s only season as Alabama’s starter has propelled him into serious first-round talk for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even being discussed as the top quarterback prospect over Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
But not everyone agrees. Former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko tweeted his scepticism: 'Ty Simpson wasn’t even going to start at Bama in 2026, and here y’all go calling him QB1 this draft.' This is how GMs get fired. Watch.
Orlovsky, however, stands by his view that Simpson holds the edge over Mendoza. He pointed out that when comparing their bodies of work, Simpson carried more of the load for his team. The gap, he says, is clear when you consider who had to do more and who won more games during the season: that’s Simpson, no contest.
Mendoza enters the draft after an extraordinary season. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and took home the Heisman Trophy. Scouts see him as the most pro-ready passer but have concerns over his pressure-to-sack rate, which hovers around 18.9%, potentially an issue for teams with weak offensive lines.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s draft stock rose sharply during a strong four-game run facing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. His upcoming performance at Alabama’s Pro Day could be crucial, especially for teams looking at quarterbacks who bring mobility and playmaking alongside pocket passing.
Simpson’s experience is limited to just 15 college games, thanks to the stacked quarterback depth at Alabama. Still, once he became the starter, he delivered solid numbers: 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in the 2025 season.
Former NFL safety Louis Riddick has been vocal about Simpson’s potential. Speaking on ESPN, Riddick said that seeing him throw in person reveals the kind of physical talent Simpson has. He’s confident in Simpson’s mental game but notes the physical attributes will really stand out when seen up close. Riddick expects Simpson to continue improving his draft stock.
Simpson will get another chance to impress scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, which could be pivotal in shaping his position ahead of the draft.
MASTERS UPDATE: TIGER WOODS CONFIRMS HE WILL ATTEND AUGUSTA NATIONAL "EITHER WAY" FOR 2026
Tiger Woods admits to a "rough road" after a frustrated TGL return, leaving his 2026 Masters status in serious doubt.
Tiger Woods says he’s still trying to get fit for The Masters next month, but he knows the clock’s not exactly on his side.
He made his golf comeback with Jupiter Links GC in Tomorrow’s Golf League, teaming up with Tom Kim and Max Homa. It’s been a while since Woods last played TGL in February 2025, when he tore his Achilles and had disc replacement surgery in his back. So, yeah, it’s been a rough road.
After his return on Tuesday, Woods didn’t sugarcoat things. He gave a pretty honest update about his chances at Augusta this year. You can tell he’s been keeping the door open for the 2026 Masters, but honestly, his appearance for Jupiter Links might’ve shaken up those plans.
Things actually started off looking good. Woods smashed a 279-yard drive on the second hole; it felt like a flash from the old Tiger. But that faded fast. His game unravelled, and by the seventh hole, he missed a three-yard putt, slammed his club into the ground, and his frustration was obvious.
Woods and his teammates just couldn’t keep up, and Jupiter Links ended up losing 9-2 to the Los Angeles Golf Club trio of Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Afterwards, Tiger didn’t hold back: “We got our arse kicked. Three eagles in a row… I missed a short one to give them momentum, and we never got it back.”
Reporters quickly shifted the focus to The Masters. Even after a disappointing night, Woods still wants to play at Augusta National. “I want to play. I love the tournament. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the champions dinner. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practising and playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Honestly, it’s obvious why Woods wants to tee it up at Augusta. He’s won The Masters five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019) and made the cut a record 24 times. Looking at how things went in his latest outing, though, it’s hard to picture him adding to those numbers in a few weeks. But if anyone can surprise people, it’s probably Tiger.
