Indiana Pacers Receive Major Draft Grade After Selecting Braden Smith

The Indiana Pacers made a trade on the night of the draft, sending Kam Jones, two future second-round picks, and cash to the Chicago Bulls for the 38th overall pick, Braden Smith.

Following the NBA Draft, The Athletic gave the Pacers a B- grade for their performance. 

"I liked the Pacers making a quick decision on Jones, though, and rolling over the roster spot with Smith," Sam Vecenie wrote. "He just seems like a Pacer. He is an elite ball-screen passer and playmaker and a phenomenal transition passer. He can score from 3 and the midrange. He's a basketball savant. The only issue is that he's 168 pounds, and while he is feisty on defense, I struggle to see how he'll defend effectively. Still, I like the Pacers sticking to their organizational principles and seeing what he can do."

Smith played well during his career with Purdue. In his freshman season, he averaged 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three.

Smith played well in his sophomore campaign, averaging 12 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals, shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 43.1 percent from deep. 

He continued to improve in his junior season, as he averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from behind the arc. 

Smith played well in his senior campaign, averaging 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 44 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from downtown.

He was a Consensus All-American twice and the Big Ten Player of the Year in the 2024-25 season.

Smith could be a rotational piece for the Pacers in his first season, as he spent four years in college. As a shooter and playmaker, Smith could be a valuable member of Indiana's bench unit to complement Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana's core.

As Haliburton returns to the lineup, the Pacers could be contenders once again, and Smith could play a part as a rotational guard.

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