With the trade deadline having come and gone, the Lakers’ focus now shifts to filling their vacant roster spot. While there are several ways to approach that dilemma, there’s a case for some South Bay talent to prove their worth in the big leagues.
Could Lakers’ G League Pair Earn Opportunities Post-Deadline?
Lakers’ Current Situation
The Lakers lost their true backup point guard by trading Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard Thursday morning, a move that addresses shooting but leaves critical questions unanswered. They already have some notable ball-handlers who could lead the second unit (e.g. LeBron James, Austin Reaves, or Marcus Smart), but they could also browse the buyout market in search of a true floor general.
As the Lakers prepare for the rest of the season, they can’t ignore two young guards hiding in plain sight.
Kobe Bufkin
The G League’s scoring leader has wasted no time turning heads. Kobe Bufkin may not have found his footing in the NBA yet, but he’s torched opponents while playing for the South Bay Lakers this season.
In 13 regular-season contests, Bufkin is averaging a league-best 27.6 points while shooting 53% from the field, 42.7% from three and 87.5% from the free-throw line. He dropped 41 points Wednesday night while going 8-of-13 from deep, days after a 36-point outing where he went 7-of-12 from three. It’s worth noting that he started both games perfectly from beyond the arc, only reinforcing his value as an elite perimeter scorer.
Though Bufkin never got a fair shake when LA signed him to a ten-day contract in January, that could change this year with the team’s guard depth in flux. Between his offensive firepower and defensive potential, it’s clear Bufkin deserves another audition sooner than later.
RJ Davis
Another scintillating scorer with playmaking chops to boot, RJ Davis has also made a name for himself in the G League. The former North Carolina Tar Heel just earned Player of the Week honors Tuesday, with an excellent run that included a career-high 45 points. Across 17 regular-season games, Davis is averaging 20 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists on .461/.462/.864 splits.
On the older side of the rookie class at 24 years old, Davis, like Bufkin, offers an offensive spark with his three-level scoring. What sets him apart (in addition to his passing) is his activity on the glass, a trait he showed last week in his first career triple-double.
Lakers fans could get a glimpse of Davis’s talent soon, as he’s among the rising stars playing in the Next Up Game at All-Star Weekend (Feb. 15, 11:30 a.m. PT).
The Last Word
The Lakers are no strangers to giving late call-ups to rising talent, from Jordan Goodwin last season to Andre Ingram back in 2018. Even though such opportunities are typically reserved for the end of the year, Bufkin and Davis have shown they could help if given the chance.
For fans who want to see what this duo can do, the South Bay Lakers face the Capital City Go-Go tomorrow at 8 a.m. PT.
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