Former Purdue point guard Braden Smith is heading back to his home state. The Chicago Bulls selected Smith with the No. 38 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night and immediately traded his rights to the Indiana Pacers. In exchange for the Westfield native, Chicago sent Kam Jones, future draft swaps, and cash considerations to the Bulls.
Smith enters the professional ranks following a historic four-year collegiate run. During his 2025-26 senior season, he averaged 14.3 points and an NCAA-leading 8.8 assists, pacing the Boilermakers to a Big Ten Tournament Championship and an Elite Eight appearance. He departs West Lafayette as the all-time career assist leader in NCAA history with 1,103, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,076 held by Duke’s Bobby Hurley.
His statistical production puts him in a category of his own. Smith is the only player in college basketball history to compile at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists, and 500 rebounds across a career. He finished with 1,932 points, 1,103 assists, and 673 rebounds. Those numbers earned him consensus First-Team All-American honors twice, making him just the fourth player in Purdue history to reach that tier alongside Zach Edey, Rick Mount, and Terry Dischinger.
The draft-night acquisition gives Indiana a seasoned playmaker to slot behind their established guards. Because Smith was selected in the second round, he is not subject to the NBA’s mandated rookie-scale contract values applied to first-round picks. This structure allows the Pacers to negotiate terms directly with his representation, opening the door for either a fully guaranteed deal or non-guaranteed money to manage roster flexibility. The move also guarantees the Westfield native will begin his professional career playing in front of a familiar local fanbase.