The Las Vegas Summer League is in full swing, and NBA fans have turned their attention to the games with the hopes of seeing their youngsters in action. Most of the focus is understandably on the rookies, but the Summer League also presents an opportunity for teams to evaluate their returning players who haven't seen much playing time.
Kobe Bufkin of the Atlanta Hawks fits that mold. After two lost seasons, Bufkin had a chance to show the team what he is capable of and earn some rotation minutes. His Summer League play so far, however, has left plenty to be desired, putting his Hawks future in jeopardy.
Kobe Bufkin as Good as Gone After Poor Summer League Display
Players entering their third season and playing in their third straight Summer League should generally dominate the low-level competition. Bufkin's performance, however, has been a mixed bag. After going off in his first game of the summer, he was awful on Sunday, finishing the game with 3/16 from the field.
Things didn't improve for him on Monday against the Rockets as Bufkin had six turnovers and five personal fouls in 20 minutes of action through the first three quarters of the game. His shot was falling unlike the previous game, but his simple mistakes and lack of consistency continued to raise eyebrows.
This is especially concerning for the Hawks, who are hoping to take a big step forward and be a contender in the Eastern Conference. Trae Young still needs a reliable backup, and if Bufkin can't dominate the Summer League, it will be hard for head coach Quin Snyder to trust the former Michigan star in that role.
Bufkin's underwhelming play could suggest that the Hawks may look to move on from him before the start of the season or at the trade deadline. If he doesn't turn things around soon, his days in Atlanta will almost certainly be numbered.