The Chicago Bulls are moving second-round pick Braden Smith to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Kam Jones, future pick swaps and cash, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. The deal was completed during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 24.
Smith was selected No. 38 overall by Chicago after being acquired through a series of draft-night moves. The former Purdue guard now returns to Indiana, where he spent his college career and became one of the most productive guards in the Big Ten.
During his senior season at Purdue, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 8.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 39 games while shooting 44.0% from the field and 36.2% from three-point range. He started every game for the Boilermakers and finished his four-year college career averaging 13.0 points and 7.4 assists per game.
Smith was one of the most accomplished players available in the second round, earning multiple All-American honors during his junior and senior seasons. His playmaking was his biggest strength, as he recorded at least 7.5 assists per game in each of his final three college seasons.
The move gives Indiana another young guard option after a difficult 2025-26 season. The Pacers finished 19-63, the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and are looking to add ball-handling depth around their developing roster.
Jones, meanwhile, heads to Chicago after spending his rookie season with Indiana. The 24-year-old guard appeared in 37 games during the 2025-26 season, averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game.
The former college standout joins a Bulls team that finished 31-51 and missed the playoffs. Chicago entered the draft with multiple picks, including No. 4 overall selection Caleb Wilson from North Carolina, and has continued reshaping its roster around younger talent.