New Orleans Pelicans waived Hunter Dickinson to create a two-way contract spot, reopening Kobe Bufkin's path to the roster after Malik Dia signed earlier. Bufkin joined New Orleans on a training camp deal following an impressive Summer League stint where he averaged 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block across three games. His best performance came in the opener with 30 points, five three-pointers, four rebounds, six assists and five steals against Minnesota. He shot 45.2% from the field in Summer League play.
What happened with the Pelicans' roster moves?
On Monday, New Orleans signed Trendon Watford to a one-year, $2.9 million minimum deal, filling the final standard roster spot and leaving only two-way options for Bufkin. That path seemed closed Tuesday when Malik Dia earned a two-way contract after his Summer League performance. Shortly after, the Pelicans waived Hunter Dickinson, according to NBA reporter Michael Scotto, creating the vacancy Bufkin now targets.
Why does this matter for Kobe Bufkin?
Bufkin remains eligible for a two-way deal with the 2026-27 season marking his fourth year of NBA experience. He proved his G League readiness last season with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 24.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 24 games while shooting 50.8% from the field and 42.3% from three. A return to the G League is possible if he misses the Pelicans' spot, but would require New Orleans to acquire his returning player rights from the Lakers for assignment to the Birmingham Squadron.
What comes next for the Pelicans and Bufkin?
New Orleans has also handed training camp deals to Caleb Houstan and Christian Koloko while evaluating South Korean standout Lee Hyun-jung. Bufkin must stand out in camp to win the two-way role, with the Pelicans' recent form showing losses in their last two games, including a 132-126 defeat to Minnesota on April 13, 2026. Fans can track the team's progress through our [fixtures](/fixtures) and monitor roster changes on the [squad](/squad) page as training camp continues.
