Pelicans part ways with Kobe Bufkin, Jalon Moore as camp cuts end

The New Orleans Pelicans released guard Kobe Bufkin and forward Jalon Moore on Saturday, October 17, the club announced, closing out its training camp cuts four days before the regular season begins.

The decision ends a short audition for Bufkin, who arrived on a camp contract in July hoping to win one of the last places on the roster. He saw limited action in the exhibition schedule, appearing three times and averaging 5.0 points and 1.0 rebound in just 7.8 minutes a night.

According to the Pelicans, the moves leave New Orleans with 18 players, three of them on two-way deals. Hoops Rumors counted 14 fully guaranteed contracts plus a partial guarantee for Trendon Watford, which puts the standard roster at the 15-man limit with every two-way slot already taken.

A career still looking for a foothold

Bufkin, 23, was the 15th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 draft, but his first three seasons never produced a steady role. After two years in Atlanta, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers on a 10-day contract in January and played 16 games for them before being released in April, shortly before the end of the regular season.

Across 43 NBA appearances, including one start, the 6-foot-4 guard has produced averages of 4.2 points, 1.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds while playing about 10 minutes a game. A crowded New Orleans backcourt left him little room to change that picture this month.

Moore’s long road back

Moore, a 6-foot-7 forward, tore his Achilles tendon in the weeks before the 2025 draft and spent the following year recovering. He returned to game action with the Pelicans’ entry in the Las Vegas Summer League this year, logging 19.3 minutes a game over three outings with averages of 6.0 points and 4.0 boards.

He had been in camp on an Exhibit 10 contract, so he can earn a bonus worth up to $91,000 if he joins the organization’s G League affiliate and stays there for at least 60 days. Reports noted that both released players could end up with that affiliate, though neither move has been announced.

What comes next

New Orleans opens its regular season at home against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, October 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Follow the matchup in the Pacers at Pelicans Game Center, and track every roster move across the league on our transactions page.