The Atlanta Hawks have selected two players in the 2023 NBA draft and traded for draft rights of another. Yet they did not have a second-year player on ESPN’s list of “the most interesting sophomores“.
The bulk of the list is made up of top-10 picks, including 2023 first-round pick Victor Wembanyama.
Three players were selected outside the top 10 to make the list, including second-round pick GG Jackson. Of course, it would have been difficult for the Hawks’ class to make the list.
Kobe Bufkin, the 15th overall pick, missed most of the season with injuries, limiting his exposure even in the G League. But heading into his second year, and with Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans with the Pelicans, Bufkin could have a surprisingly breakout season.
The most significant change is the departure of Murray. Bufkin, who has a similar physical profile to his former teammate, also offers a similar skill set in theory.
He is/was a playmaker with two-way skills and a questionable shot who showed potential.
Looking back at Kobe who recorded a season high of 43 points with the @CPSkyhawks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aLbdbT1RYi
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 20, 2024
While Murray has proven he can at least be a consistent threat from distance, Bufkin’s perimeter shooting has been questionable since before he entered the league. A shoulder injury sidelined him for NBA 2K25’s Summer League, so it’s unclear if his shooting has improved.
He’ll have to fight for playing time, which would prevent Bufkin from realizing his potential as an X-factor for the Hawks.
The Hawks acquired Dyson Daniels as part of the Murray trade. Daniels had a strong performance for Australia at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, including increased effectiveness from beyond the arc, albeit from a shorter distance.
At 6’1″, Daniels is taller than Bufkin, who is 6’4″. Daniels has also proven himself as a defender. But Bufkin isn’t the only one who will have to fight for a regular role.
Starting forward Jalen Johnson should handle the ball a lot and Vit Krejci can too.
It might be tough for Bufkin to find on-ball reps. But he’s shown the kind of two-way ability the Hawks need on the court around Trae Young. Bufkin seemed like a potential heir to Murray when the former was selected.
It could take a major turnaround for Bufkin. Daniels is a key piece in the Murray trade and at least the co-favorite with Bogdan Bogdanovic to start at guard.
Bogdanovic is another player who can make plays and handle the ball.
The Hawks also selected Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, so he’ll have plenty of opportunities to touch the ball. That only further underscores the need for Bufkin to develop his shooting skills if he wants to see the court.
The hawks 2022 first-round pick traded AJ Griffin to the Houston Rockets this offseason, so there is precedent for them to get rid of a prospect.
That should alert Bufkin, whose defense was something Griffin lacked.
As with anything, there are some important factors that need to come together for Bufkin to have the impact suggested here. But Bufkin’s game can outweigh them all, especially if he shows signs of developing as a three-point shooter.
