What happened: New Orleans parted ways with Bufkin on Saturday, per Marc Stein. The move arrived hours after the Portland Trail Blazers waived Jeremy Sochan, the No. 9 overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Why it matters: Two recent top-15 draft selections hit the waiver wire on the same afternoon as franchises trim rosters before opening night. For a Pelicans front office that made only two roster moves early in the offseason, Bufkin's departure follows the recent preseason waivers of Caleb Houstan and Christian Koloko.

What to watch: Bufkin and Sochan now enter the NBA waiver process ahead of the 2026-27 regular-season tipoff.