Pacers add Purdue guard Braden Smith — and roster flexibility too
Indiana moved into the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft for a familiar local prospect, trading Kam Jones and future pick swaps to land Smith at No. 38.
The Indiana Pacers once again found a way into the second round of the NBA Draft — and this move should not have come as a surprise. It matches what the front office has done in recent years: staying active, identifying value and being willing to move into the draft when there’s a player they like.
That player was 5-foot-10 guard Braden Smith, the Purdue graduate and local product from Westfield High School. He was voted Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2022, then went on to have a special career up in West Lafayette.
Because the Pacers did not have a first- or second-round selection, they had to work the phones to get back into it. They acquired pick No. 38 Wednesday evening by sending out guard Kam Jones, two second-round pick swaps (2028, 2030), and cash considerations.
