The Indiana Pacers entered the 2026 NBA Draft with nothing to do, and came out with one of Purdue basketball’s all-time greats.
Indiana traded one of its 2025 second-round picks, Kam Jones, and a couple of future draft pick swaps to the Chicago Bulls for NCAA all-time assists leader Braden Smith.
It’s a great look for the Pacers, but will it help on the court? Second-round picks rarely become starters, but he can learn from T.J. McConnell, the 34-year-old backup point guard entering his 12th season after going undrafted.
NBA Draft 2026: Pacers grades after trading for Braden Smith
Ben Golliver, ESPN: C+
“Though expectations are relatively modest for his pro career given his physical stature (5-10, 167 pounds), Smith is a feisty gamer who holds the NCAA’s all-time assists record. The Pacers should consider charging a subscription fee to watch Smith battle T.J. McConnell during training camp.”
John Hollinger, The Athletic: C+
“Narrative-wise, Smith to Indiana is too perfect: a pure point guard from Purdue joining the local pro team. He’s undersized and joining a very crowded backcourt in Indy and might have to start on a two-way. That said, I had several other players rated higher. Also, kudos to the Bulls for basically selling both their second-round picks. New GM, same owner.”
Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports: B
“Smith is a pure point guard and one of the all-time great passers in college basketball history. Pacers saw a ton of him at Purdue. They know exactly what they’re getting and this tells you they think he’s a legit NBA player, despite lacking prototypical NBA physical tools.”
Bleacher Report: B
“There may not be a better landing spot for the Purdue star, and that goes beyond geography. For different reasons, Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell both faced plenty of doubt during their careers, and they’ll be great potential mentors as Smith tries to do the same.”
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports: B+
“Indiana brings in the Purdue star who is maybe the best passer in the draft (he is the college all-time assist leader) who is a better athlete than realized. He’s undersized (5-10) but as a backup point guard with the Pacers, there’s a role for him.”
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Pacers trade for Braden Smith gets varied 2026 NBA Draft grades
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
