T[] castBuffer = (T[]) buffer;
    sort(castBuffer, 0, bufferSize, comparator);
    if (bufferSize > k) {
      Arrays.fill(buffer, k, buffer.length, null);
      bufferSize = k;
      threshold = buffer[k - 1];
    }
    // Up to bufferSize, all elements of buffer are real Ts (not null unless T includes null)
    T[] topK = Arrays.copyOf(castBuffer, bufferSize);
    // we have to support null elements, so no ImmutableList for us

            return buf;
        }

        // Validate buffer size to prevent overflow
        int bufferSize = SmbComTransaction.TRANSACTION_BUF_SIZE;
        if (bufferSize < 0 || bufferSize > MAX_BUFFER_SIZE) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Invalid buffer size: " + bufferSize);
        }

        return new byte[bufferSize];
    }

    static void getBuffers(final SmbComTransaction req, final SmbComTransactionResponse rsp) {