NBA Expansion Draft: 3 Hawks players to protect, 2 to make available

Would Hawks let Kobe Bufkin hit expansion draft?

The Hawks selected Kobe Bufkin with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2023 draft. He flashed the same kind of two-way versatility that made him an appealing prospect coming out of college.

However, he has also shown some of the same flaws, most notably with his shooting.

Bufkin shot 35.5% from beyond the arc in his final season at Michigan after shooting 22.2% in his first season. That is a notable improvement despite still falling below an ideal mark for a guard.

Bufkin shot 22.5% from deep as a rookie, averaging 2.4 attempts across his 17 appearances in 2023-24.

He has also battled through durability issues.

Thumb and toe injuries hindered him during his rookie campaign. A shoulder injury suffered on the eve of summer league practice wiped out his second exhibition slate. But Bufkin has shown well at the G League and summer levels.

He also provides nice length at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-7-plus wingspan, hinting at his defensive potential. But the Hawks acquired Dyson Daniels in the Dejounte Murray trade.

Daniels provides all that Bufkin does right now and is two inches taller.

The Hawks have a history of extending their youngsters, so Bufkin could be on a new deal by the time an actual draft would occur. But that could be more reason for the Hawks to expose him to a new team via expansion draft, potentially avoiding a reoccurring injury risk.