Can Utah turn a waived guard into a bench spark? After New Orleans cut him Saturday, free‑agent Kobe Bufkin has agreed to a two‑way deal with the Jazz, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and The Stein Line.
Since Utah has no open two‑way slot, it must release a current player. Reports from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype suggest forward Blake Hinson will be the one to go.
The 2023 first‑rounder, 15th overall, has logged just 43 games in his first three seasons. Injuries hampered his two‑year stint in Atlanta, and a brief 2025‑26 run with the Lakers ended with an April waiver. He later joined the Pelicans on an Exhibit 9 deal in July but never secured a regular‑season roster spot.
At 23, Bufkin’s NBA numbers are modest—4.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 10.2 minutes, shooting .354/.212/.737. Yet his G League breakout was impressive, averaging 24.8 points, 4.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds on .507/.423/.895 in 24 games. For my money, that production deserves another NBA look, and it earned him All‑NBAGL second‑team honors.
Hinson, 26, posted solid stats in limited Jazz action last year, scoring 11.9 points on .513/.468/.750 in 14 games (20.4 minutes). Like Bufkin, the 6‑8 forward thrived in the G League, posting 23.5 points with .482/.370/.691 shooting across stints with the Rip City Remix and Salt Lake City Stars.
This season marks Bufkin’s final year of two‑way eligibility, so the contract runs for just one year. If finalized Wednesday, he can appear in up to 50 regular‑season games and will earn a prorated $674,980, provided he stays under contract through the league’s January salary guarantee.
Hinson will hit unrestricted free agency on Friday if waived today and goes unclaimed. Will Utah find a better fit for the forward, or will he explore options elsewhere?