Pacers Officially Sign Braden Smith to Two-Way Deal

The Indiana Pacers have officially signed Braden Smith to a two-way contract, nearly two months after he was selected with the No. 38 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. On draft night’s second round, Indiana acquired the rights to Smith from the Chicago Bulls, sending two second-round pick swaps and Kameron Jones—picked No. 38 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. General manager Chad Buchanan said the team values Smith’s competitive will and winning impact, citing feedback from Purdue coach Matt Painter. Smith led NCAA Division I in total assists in his four seasons with Purdue, recording 1,103.