The Eastern Conference is wide open for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2025-26 NBA season.
Key injuries to the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton have opened the door for the Hawks or another franchise to make a surprise deep run. If there was ever a season for things to fall their way, it would be this season. The Hawks have a wealth of young talent that should improve, a franchise star in Trae Young, and a blockbuster offseason addition in Kristaps Porziņģis.
Exciting additions don't wipe away the handful of mistakes that remain on the Hawks' roster heading into camp and preseason action, though. At the top of that list is Kobe Bufkin,
The 2023 NBA draft's 15th overall pick has yet to live up to expectations in his first two seasons. At only 21, it is still too early to call the guard a bust, but things might be trending in that direction.
Leading the Hawks to an interesting decision that has to be made by Oct. 31. Atlanta must decide whether to exercise next year's rookie contract option that would be the final year in Bufkin's initial deal. At first glance, it seems the Hawks might be wise to let this year play out.
Hawks Struggling G Kobe Bufkin Forcing Atlanta into Difficult Contract Decision
Bufkin's fourth-year team option is $6.9 million for the 2025-26 season, according to Hoops Rumors. It is hard to sell this as a worthwhile investment with what the young guard has put on the court thus far. The wiser option is likely to pass on the option and risk Bufkin breaking out. It is better to pay more for a proven Bufkin than hand the struggling guard a near-$7 million contract.
The obvious question to this would be whether or not the option could hand Atlanta future trade value. A question that lacks a clear answer, but comes with the exact same risks. It makes far more sense to pass on the option and pivot if things change throughout the season.
For Bufkin, there is no question that the former first-round selection is running out of time to fulfill his early potential. He's only averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and .374/.220/.654 splits in 27 games without a start.
The Hawks are moving their chips to the center of the table to attempt to make a run, and the ex-Michigan Wolverine is very quickly becoming an afterthought in what Atlanta is building this season and beyond.