The Hawks tried to trade for Raptors forward Pascal Siakam this summer, but they weren’t willing to part with first-round pick Kobe Bufkin, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Atlanta’s offers focused on De’Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin and draft picks, but Bufkin wasn’t included, sources tell Scotto.
Toronto considered selecting Bufkin with the 13th pick before opting for Gradey Dick, Scotto adds. He also hears that Hawks coach Quin Snyder is a huge proponent of Bufkin, who is coming off an impressive sophomore season at Michigan.
Scotto notes that Atlanta’s options will expand when Bogdan Bogdanovic becomes trade-eligible on Saturday. The veteran swingman, who was named to the All-Star 5 at the World Cup, is under contract for $68MM over the next four years, including a $16MM team option for 2026/27.
Scotto offers more inside information from around the league:
- The Wizards aren’t looking to make a move right away, but they expect to get trade offers for Danilo Gallinari, Landry Shamet and Delon Wright. Scotto points out that Gallinari at $6.8MM and Wright at $8.2MM both have expiring contracts. Shamet is signed for three more years, but his only guaranteed money is $10.25MM for 2023/24. Sources tell Scotto that Gallinari hasn’t engaged in buyout talks with the Wizards and is focused on making a comeback after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. The Hornets considered making a trade offer for Wright before targeting Frank Ntilikina instead, Scotto adds, and league executives told him that Washington could probably get a second-round pick or two in exchange for the veteran guard.
- Elfrid Payton recently had workouts with the Timberwolves and Hornets, sources told Scotto. Payton spent part of last season in the G League, then signed to play in Puerto Rico in late March. He hasn’t been in the NBA since playing 50 games with the Suns during the 2021/22 season.
- When Las Vegas hosts the semifinals and finals of the in-season tournament in December, the response could go a long way toward securing an expansion team for the city, multiple executives told Scotto. The NBA has been expanding its presence in Las Vegas in recent years with the annual Summer League and the G League Showcase. Seattle and Las Vegas are widely considered the leading contenders for the next round of expansion.
Bufkin is Payton. Why did Atalanta draft Bufkin ?
Man or woman?
Dracula and his Lady
lol….
That picture has me mesmerized
Dracula and his Lady
lol….
That picture has me mesmerized
Hawks sign them to trade them …..
I guess it’s a new tactic ……
Somebody come get ya auntie
Las Vegas is not big enough for 4 pro teams. Madness
First time I’ve ever seen one of those pics with Silver in it and he was actually the better looking dude.
Wouldn’t trade Bufkin. Omg. There best player is a PG. I thought Atlanta wanted to get better. Guess not
Bogdon, Griffin and Bufkin for Pascal
Who is Bufkin …. Hawks best players are guards. Have to chk his clips.
LOL, feeble reporting. TOR passed on Bufkin in the draft, so they most likely couldn’t care less whether ATL is or isn’t willing to part with him in a Siakam deal.
If ATL likes a middling draft pick like Bufkin that much, then they shouldn’t include him in a trade; like most trade pieces, he’s fungible with many other trade pieces. Include something else.