Lakers Waive Kobe Bufkin Before Playoffs

The Lakers are waiving Kobe Bufkin, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday. ESPN’s Bobby Marks said Friday at 5 p.m. ET was the deadline to waive a player on an expiring contract. Bufkin played 16 games for L.A., averaging 2.9 points in 7.4 minutes after putting up 27.7 points per game with South Bay. The move opens a roster spot, and Charania says the Lakers plan to “evaluate a signing over the weekend” before the playoffs start next week. L.A. is the No. 4 seed and lined up to face the No. 5 Rockets, but Luka Dončić is out indefinitely with a strained hamstring and Austin Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks with a Grade 2 left oblique injury.